High Standards in High Water

A Texas high school pool-replacement project stands as a compelling example of overcoming challenging site conditions. Working methodically in high groundwater, the project team expertly created a new aquatic facility that will serve the school and community for decades to come.  

By Nick Han

Municipalities and school districts across the country are confronting a familiar paradox:

The sites most available, or most logical, for new and replacement aquatic facilities also present significant technical challenges. Coastal locations in particular, with high water tables, unstable soils, sometimes located in bustling community campuses, will demand solutions that respect environmental realities, rather than resist them.

The recent pool replacement project at Brazoswood High School in Clute, TX, offers a clear example of how experienced teams, disciplined sequencing and collaborative engineering can deliver a high-performance aquatic facility under demanding conditions, and close scrutiny.

This project launched a first-time partnership between Landmark Aquatic and Stewart Builders, and its success has since paved the way for a second collaboration now underway, the construction and relocation of the W.W. Emmons Natatorium for Spring ISD (Independent School District).

Landmark Aquatic is a nationwide provider of commercial aquatic facility design, construction, and maintenance services, with more than six decades of industry experience. Serving clients across most of the U.S., Landmark delivers construction-led solutions and on-going support though its AquatiCare maintenance team, ensuring excellence “for the life of your pool.” 

Stewart Builders is a general contractor that also provides pre-construction and design-build services in the greater Houston area.  With over 30 years of experience and more than 1,500 employees, Steward Builders has an impressive reputation for getting the job done right. 

Defined by Performance

The objective was straightforward and non-negotiable: Build a fully functioning competition pool capable of supporting swimming, diving and water polo. That requirement carried particular weight given the school’s reputation. Brazoswood’s water polo program is widely regarded as one of the strongest in the state, making reliable access to a regulation, competition-ready pool essential to both athletic success and student opportunity.

Meeting those required replacing an aging and outdated pool with a structure that could perform reliably over the long term in an environment defined by groundwater pressure and coastal proximity.

Clute sits just 17 feet above sea level, with groundwater encountered roughly four feet below finished grade. Adjacent surface water, specifically a neighboring lake, further influenced subsurface conditions. From the outset, it was clear that groundwater management would be a dominant factor throughout construction.

Stewart Builders, serving as general contractor, deployed a continuous, 24-hour temporary dewatering system to stabilize the excavation and allow construction to proceed safely and accurately. The system consisted of vertical PVC wells with perforations at their lower ends, installed at roughly five-foot intervals around the perimeter of the pool excavation, approximately 500 linear feet in total. These wells were connected to pumps that continuously drew groundwater away from the excavation.

“The temporary system ran nonstop,” explains Harrison Cardiff, project manager with Stewart Builders. “Once excavation reached groundwater at about four feet, dewatering allowed us to install the pool structure and associated piping under stable conditions.”

Redundancy was built into the process. An electric pump handled primary operation, while a diesel backup ensured uninterrupted performance in the event of a power failure. Groundwater was discharged into the newly installed stormwater system, with no special treatment required due to the nature of the water.

Just as important, the system was closely monitored and adjusted throughout construction, a necessity on an active high school campus where safety, coordination and daily operations had to coexist with heavy construction activity.

Permanent Solutions Below the Shell

While Stewart Builders designed, installed, and operated the temporary dewatering system during construction, Landmark Aquatic’s role was limited to executing the permanent work that would remain after site restoration and pool opening. Specifically, installing the permanent underdrain system beneath the pool, which was designed by Counsilman-Hunsaker to provide long-term resilience in high water table conditions.

This system consists of a perforated pipe running longitudinally beneath the pool shell, connected to a dedicated pump rated at 100 gallons per minute and driven by a 1.5-horsepower motor. The pump is controlled by a float switch that activates when groundwater rises to approximately four feet below the pool.

The underdrain system is not intended for continuous operation during normal use. When the pool is filled, hydrostatic pressure is equalized, preventing uplift or structural stress. The system becomes essential during maintenance events, such as when the pool is drained, providing controlled relief of groundwater pressure beneath the shell. A 220-volt generator hookup adds resilience in the event of power loss.

Once the pool structure was complete, plaster cured and the vessel filled, the temporary dewatering system was removed in its entirety, leaving only the permanent underdrain in place for future protection.

Precision, Sequencing and Leadership

Projects in saturated soils demand careful planning. Excavation, stabilization, shell placement and installation of plumbing and mechanical systems must occur in the correct order and without interruption. In Clute, that discipline proved essential to maintaining schedule and quality.

Equally important was communication. With students, families, coaches and faculty closely tracking progress, the project team operated under constant public visibility. Transparency around timelines and milestones helped maintain confidence throughout construction.

Leadership on site came from Landmark Aquatic’s newly promoted superintendent, Jesse Moreno, whose performance exceeded expectations and reflected the company’s commitment to developing the next generation of field leadership.

Lessons for Coastal and High-Water Projects

The project offers a set of key takeaways for owners and designers facing similar conditions:

• Early Hydrological Planning Matters: Understanding groundwater behavior at the outset informs structural design, dewatering strategies and realistic schedules.
• Sequencing Is Critical: In saturated soils, construction must follow a disciplined progression to protect structural integrity and long-term performance.
• Active Campuses Require True Partnership: Building in live community environments demands constant communication and coordination among contractors, owners and end users.
• Experience Ensures Longevity: Facilities exposed to groundwater pressure must be designed and built by teams familiar with coastal hydrology and subsurface systems.

A High-Impact Investment

The completed pool now provides student athletes with a purpose-built environment for training and competition, reinforcing the project stakeholders’ commitment to excellence both in and out of the water.

As communities across the country confront similar environmental constraints, we believe the Clute project stands as a compelling model for what can be achieved when expertise is clearly defined and execution is disciplined. It demonstrates that even in challenging conditions, resilient aquatic facilities can be engineered with confidence and built to serve their communities for decades to come.

Nick Han is the director of marketing at Landmark Aquatic, where he leads marketing efforts across commercial aquatics. He works closely with operators, designers, builders, and service teams to translate complex projects into clear, compelling, real-world narratives. With more than 15 years of experience across the sports, beverage, and aquatic industries, Nick’s focus is on aligning marketing with sales and operations to support long-term, sustainable growth. He can be reached at nhan@landmarkaquatic.com.