Why should the Sourcéo aquatic area be closed for three months?

toFans of warm water swimming, high-pressure jets and other sparkling beds will have to be patient. Until next July, it will be impossible for them to reach the Sorcio water area in Saint-Paul-les-Dax.

toFans of warm water swimming, high-pressure jets and other sparkling beds will have to be patient. Until next July, it will be impossible for them to reach the Sorcio water area in Saint-Paul-les-Dax.

The Thermador Group, operator of the site, which was built in 1997 on the edge of Christos Lake, was forced to close its three indoor pools and two outdoor pools. Thermadour's chief operating officer refutes any bacteriological concerns, but admits there was “poor workmanship” in the resins applied to the pools just four years ago. “It's been almost two years since the waterproofing problem was discovered,” says Marian Herrera.

“The insurance companies have given us permission to carry out the work next February. Since Sourcecéo is an establishment open all year round, we have chosen to intervene as quickly as possible.” With attendance at the aquatic area reaching “180,000 entries in 2023”, the administration has taken This decision is so that swimming pools can be reopened to the public during peak periods “from school holidays until the end of the heat season.”

Treatments have been maintained, and the spa is open

In order to restore a swimming area of ​​more than 500 square meters, the work, which began at the beginning of April 2024, must continue for the next three months. The treatment takes place in the Sourcéo's thermal pools without any effect on the spa guests. However, the institution's management was forced to review its exciting offer for the spring semester. “Subscriptions have been extended,” reception continues two days a week, aquatics classes have moved to the pools that remain in operation, and “the spa remains open,” says Virginia Blank, Thermadour's marketing officer.

After the sinks were drained, I began polishing them. The hammered marble floor was covered in black. Huge panels cover the ceiling and divide the space to prevent the spread of dust generated during work.

And with resins that had acquired an orange tint over time, indicative of the use of iron-laden water, the remainder still required several weeks of sanding. “Everything has to go. We have to go back to concrete so the tiles can be laid next,” reveals Sourcéo Saint-Paulois director, William Pichon.

Redesigned locker rooms

The last major renovation dates back to 2016, with the space subsequently taking on the look and feel as we know it. This time, Sourcéo will take advantage of this lockdown period to reorganize the changing rooms.

“It's been almost two years since the waterproofing problem was discovered.”

This work, which was integrated into a “total budget of 900,000 euros”, would “improve and beautify the space of this changing room,” according to Marian Herrera. Currently, several cabins and changing rooms are still installed to reduce user waiting.

This time those swimmers will have to wait a quarter. Without being able to return to the Aygueblue Aquatic Center in Saint-Geours-de-Maremne, whose swimming pool is being renovated since September 2023, this public can invest in those at Aquae for swimming a few distances.