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Public Assets

Public swimming pool ground improvement

Challenge

A Midlands public swimming pool suffered major leaks after loose backfill caused circulation pipes to fail. Excavation repairs would have meant months of closure and community disruption.

Solution

Geobear injected geopolymers around the pools to 2 m depth, compacting soils and securing pipework — completing 120 injections in just 7 days without excavation.

120

injections completed in 7 days

Zero excavation

No need to drain or demolish pool structures

1 week

Pool reopened to the public within one week

Background

A public swimming pool owned by a Midlands local authority suffered a major water loss when fractured circulation pipes allowed water to escape beneath the slab. The main pool had to be closed while pipe repairs were undertaken.

Investigations revealed that the backfill beneath the pipework was loose and prone to further settlement. This created a risk that pipes could bow, causing joint displacement and future water leaks.

The local authority required an urgent, non-invasive solution that would stabilise the backfill quickly and avoid lengthy closures, as the pool was a key community asset.

Challenge

The project presented a combination of geotechnical, structural, and operational challenges:

  • Loose backfill at depth: Investigations confirmed poorly compacted soils around the pipework, increasing the risk of pipe bowing and further fractures.
  • Live public facility: The pool was closed temporarily, but the council demanded the fastest possible solution to avoid extended disruption to community services.
  • Construction detail: The pool hall slab was reinforced concrete, meaning drilling was more time-intensive than expected and required additional equipment to maintain programme.
  • Alternative methods: Excavation and re-compaction or cementitious grouting would have required months of closure and extensive demolition, which was unacceptable for the council.

From closure risk to community success — Geobear stabilised the pool in one week, keeping a vital leisure asset open for everyone.

Solution

Geobear developed a targeted geopolymer injection plan to stabilise the soils around the circulation pipes and pool perimeter.

  • Design: Injection points were established 500 mm from pool walls and drilled to 2 m below slab level.

  • Injection method: Steel tubes were installed through the slab, and two-component geopolymer resin was injected. On mixing, the resin expanded to form a closed-cell structure that filled voids, displaced water, and compacted loose soils.

  • Adaptation to reinforced slab: When drilling progress was slowed by reinforcement, the client arranged mechanical boring, allowing Geobear to resume injections and maintain the revised 7-day programme.

  • Execution: A total of 120 injections were carried out adjacent to both pools. Continuous monitoring ensured resin expansion was controlled and confined within the target zones.

This approach provided immediate ground strengthening, prevented further pipe movement, and avoided the need to drain the pools.

Drilling at swimming pool

Results

Ground stabilised: Backfill and soils around circulation pipes compacted and strengthened.

Pipe stability restored: Risk of further bowing and joint displacement removed.

Rapid programme: Works completed in 7 days, compared with months for excavation.

Minimal disruption: No need to drain pools or close surrounding facilities.

Carbon savings: Geopolymer injection avoided the high emissions of excavation, concrete backfill, and heavy plant.

Community benefit: Pool handed back to the council and reopened to the public on schedule.

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