Pool News
Did The Pool Deck Contribute To The Collapse at The Champlain Towers?
Cracks radiating in the ceiling of the parking structure underneath the pool deck at the Champlain Towers
It’s been a week since the collapse at The Champlain Towers. The loss of life and devestation to the community of Surfside, FL cannot be calculated at this time. Workers are still scrambling against the clock and hoping against all odds to recover survivors from the deadly collapse. Almost immediately, pictures and reports began pointing to the pool deck as the possible source of the building collapse.
One of the initial first reports pertaining to the incident was from a resident who claimed that directly before the structure failed, that the pool deck was caving in. This news in itself came as a precursor to a damning structural survey discovered that was released in 2018 which pointed to numerous repairs that needed to be conducted, citing various leaks and deteriorating concrete as a necessary focus for immediate repair work.
What Role Did Poor Waterproofing Play?
To get a better understanding of what role waterproofing may have played, we reached out to one of the leading experts in the pool industry – Vito Mariano, President of Basecrete and a recognized industry authority on waterproofing pools. Mariano’s company has been involved in over 90,000 swimming pool waterproofing projects worldwide. As an analyst, we asked him based on the photos circulating in the media what his take was on the incident. Specifically, did waterproofing play a role in the collapse of The Champlain Towers?
“Concrete is a sponge for water and it has to be protected, especially if it has steel in it. This is a perfect situation where water got to the steel – it expanded and once the metal in the steel starts to break down, you are going to get some deviation in the strength.” said Mariano.
New video footage released the other day shows what appears to be pouring water coming from the ceiling of the parking structure at the Champlain Towers, which validates what many have been saying – which is the collapse started in the parking structure near the pool deck.
What’s In The Morabito Report?
Frank Morabito’s analysis conducted in 2018 indicated a laundry list of structural repairs that needed to be conducted. Morabito’s report included major structural detoriation in the concrete slab below the pool deck, as well as abundant cracking and spalling in the columns of the parking garage.
Read the entire Champlain Towers structural analysis report from 2018
We asked Mariano if any particular shortcomings in the pool deck area may have led to deterioration and whether this is common in the pool industry.
“I do see this type of thing all the time. I get the worst swimming pool vessels in the country thrown at me.” said Mariano who explained that not all of them can be saved “Some of them have to be demolished and started from scratch”.
Many pools in South Florida are suspended between the floors of a building or over a parking structure. The need for waterproofing these vessels and the surrounding structure is imperative. Mariano explained that these types of structures are constantly prone to movement. “The structure has to maintain all that weight in place and when you get deterioration that starts, you never know… it’s a ticking timebomb”.
“Concrete needs to be protected from water, even if there is no swimming pool it still needs to be protected because you have hundreds of thousands of tons that are suspended and moving in the air.” said Mariano, “Then you have all these structures that are built on sand around these beaches. They’re all built on pylons. As we all know this building was sinking for a number of years.” continued Mariano.
What Went Wrong With The Pool Deck
The Champlain Towers had been sinking at an average of 2mm per year according to reports. In the structural survey done by Frank Morabito, his analysis defined the pool deck area as an instance of poor project planning. The flat surface of the pool deck allowed water to sit on top of the waterproofing until it evaporated.
Morabito’s recommendation was to perform immediate repairs which would consist of removing the deck waterproofing as well as the top concrete slab to gain access to the waterproofing membrane. The report stated however, that it would be impossible for full restoration and repair work on the pool corbel and wall repair work in the pool pump room to be performed. The survey indicated that “areas of deteriorated concrete appeared to penetrate deep into wall/corbel construction” and that “aggressive excavation of concrete at the severely deteriorated pool corbel could affect the stability of the remaining adjacent concrete constructions.”
The recommended repairs were going to cost approximately $15 million dollars. It’s a point of fact, that the process of conducting the repairs would have effectively shut down the building for a good portion of residents as well.
When discussing the overall cost of the repairs, ultimately it is the homeowners who were going to foot the bill. This year each resident had been assessed their fair share of the necessary repairs. On average residents were facing anywhere from $80,190 for one-bedroom units to $336,135 for the owner of the building’s four-bedroom penthouse for the recommended repairs in Morabito’s report.
The underside of the pool deck had cracks that were radiating and were fixed with epoxy injection. In the structural survey conducted in 2018, the report indicated that the application was not continuous and was evident of poor workmanship.
A commercial contractor snapped some photos of the pool equipment room days before the collapse. These photos were released recently on the Miami Herald website. As can be seen from the photos, there are definite indications of major deterioration of the concrete structure in the pool pump room.
When analyzing the photos the contractor took and inspecting the deterioration, an analyst on CNN Wednesday evening determined that the photos of the pump room look bad but are inconclusive and was reluctant to say whether they represent a contributing cause in the collapse.
In analyzing what went wrong, we asked Mariano, if this method of epoxy injection repair was correct. “You have to use a proper material to do your injections first of all.” said Mariano, “I would never use epoxy to fill a crack that is going to move. Epoxy is a very rigid material, you need something that’s going to elongate when it does move.”
Mariano recommended a waterproofing caulking and injection system for this type of application. “The failure of using the proper material will always create some damage in the future if there is any additional movement of water.”
Sadly, this type of incident is fairly common in other places of the world with lower construction standards. It is incredibly rare to see this type of structural failure in North America, however it’s not unheard of and Mariano fears that unless something is done soon, we may see more similar incidents unfold.
Many of the high rise condos in South Florida were built over 50 years ago. Mariano explained what troubles him the most is that the building standards and the quality of concrete were lower decades ago. “The stuff that they built years ago really scares me.” said Mariano, “These buildings that are falling apart were built 50, 60, 70 years ago, they’re the ones I’m really worried about. The standards then don’t even come close to the standards we have today.”
America’s $3 Trillion Dollar Concrete Bill
The problem seems systemic as these aging concrete structures become more and more expensive to fix. People have this misconception that concrete is permanent. The notion of long standing concrete structures dating back to antiquity often leads to a misguided belief that today’s concrete has the same strength or more. In actuality this couldn’t be further than the truth. Today’s modern concrete has a lifespan of roughly 50-100 years thanks to the way that modern concrete is reinforced. One of the most famous concrete buildings in America, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, cost only $155,000 to build in 1936… the cost of repairs in 2001 came to $11.5 million.
Mariano said the most troubling issue is ultimately that HOA’s do not want to pay for the necessary repairs on these older buildings. In many cases the residents are looking at over a hundred thousand dollars in assessed repairs and simply can’t afford it.
In a recent article Slate said that the dream of Florida is dead and said that the Miami condo collapse was a crisis for the entire state. A sentiment Mariano echoed when he described the issue of aging buildings and HOA’s who are reluctant to pass millions in repairs on to residents. The issue has many condo owners in South Florida concerned whether their buildings are safe or not.
As the nation speculates, the cause of the collapse is still under investigation as are rescue efforts. To date the death toll is now 22 people. So far no survivors have been recovered and approximately 126 people still remain unaccounted for. Impending weather is also expected to hamper first responders as Florida lays directly in Hurricane Elsa’s long range path. Concerns remain about the structural integrity of what is left standing. Rescuers stopped for 15 hours Thursday as engineers evaluated the remaining structure.
Listen to our complete podcast with Vito Mariano
Landmark Aquatic is pleased to announce that three of its aquatic facility projects received 2026 PHTA Awards of Excellence from the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), one of the pool and spa industry’s premier design competitions.
- Doris Roznovak Aquatic Center, Taylor, TX — Merit Award, Commercial Aquatic Facilities
- Danville High School Natatorium Danville, IN — Merit Award, Commercial Aquatic Facilities
- Astra Tower Apartments, Salt Lake City, UT — Silver Award, Elevated Pool and Spa Structures
PHTA is the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry. Its annual International Awards of Excellence is one of the industry’s largest and most respected design competitions, recognizing the most creative and innovative pools, spas, hot tubs, and water features built each year. Hundreds of entries are submitted annually by professionals across the U.S. and around the world.
“PHTA is proud to recognize our members for their craftsmanship, inspired design, and dedication to elevating the industry,” said Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President and CEO of PHTA.
“These awards reflect what it takes to design, build, operate, and maintain a truly successful aquatic facility,” said J. Ryan Casserly, Chief Executive Officer of Landmark Aquatic. “That level of commitment shows up in the work of everyone on our team, and we’re proud to keep investing in serving our customers and the communities who enjoy these facilities.”
About Landmark
Landmark Aquatic is a nationwide provider of commercial aquatic facility design, construction, and maintenance services, with more than six decades of industry experience. Landmark supports clients across most of the U.S. through construction-led solutions and its AquatiCare maintenance program — delivering excellence “for the life of your pool” and building long-term partnerships through exceptional service and forward-thinking solutions. Learn more at www.landmarkaquatic.com
NORRISTOWN, Pennsylvania – Women in the Industry (WITI), an initiative of the Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA), is proud to host its 3rd Annual WITI Walk on Sunday, October 11, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at scenic Norristown Farm Park in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
Participants may also join virtually from anywhere in the country, allowing supporters nationwide to walk, run, or donate in support of a shared mission: ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn the life-saving skill of swimming.
The walk benefits Every Child a Swimmer (ECAS), a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing childhood drowning by providing swim lesson scholarships to children from low-income families, promoting water safety education, and advancing legislation that expands access to drowning prevention resources. Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, making access to swimming lessons and water safety education more important than ever.
The partnership between NESPA, WITI, and Every Child a Swimmer reflects the pool industry’s unwavering commitment to safety. While WITI exists to empower, mentor, and elevate women throughout the industry, its members also recognize the important role they play in protecting families and promoting the safe enjoyment of water. Together, these organizations help educate communities, expand access to swim lessons, and work toward a future where every child has the opportunity to learn to swim.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with Every Child a Swimmer,” said WITI leadership. “As women in the pool industry, we understand that our work extends beyond building and maintaining pools, it includes educating communities, promoting water safety, and helping save lives. Together, we can make a meaningful difference.”
Leading Every Child a Swimmer is Executive Director Casey McGovern, whose commitment to drowning prevention is deeply personal.
After losing her 19-month-old daughter, Edna Mae (“Em”), to drowning in 2009, McGovern dedicated her life to ensuring other families never experience the same tragedy. Today, her leadership has helped grow Every Child a Swimmer into a national network of more than 430 participating swim school locations across 46 states, providing nearly $1 million annually in swim lesson scholarships for children in need.
“Our mission is simple,” said McGovern. “Every child deserves the opportunity to learn this life-saving skill, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. Through partnerships like WITI, we’re expanding access to swim lessons, measuring outcomes, and helping ensure more children gain the skills they need to stay safe around water.”
Participants of all ages and abilities are encouraged to register, walk, run, sponsor the event, or donate. Those unable to attend in Pennsylvania can participate virtually from anywhere in the country by walking in their own communities while supporting the cause online.
Register Today
https://nespa.users.membersuite.com/events/683a8c52-0078-ce39-202f-0b49bfa98b74/details
Event Information:
2026 WITI Walk
Sunday, October 11, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Norristown Farm Park
2500 Upper Farm Road
Norristown, PA 19403
Virtual participation is available nationwide.
Every registration, sponsorship, and donation helps provide life-saving swim lessons to children who otherwise could not afford them. Thanks to generous matching support, every dollar donated will be quadrupled, significantly increasing the impact for children and families.
About Women in the Industry (WITI)
Women in the Industry (WITI), an initiative of the Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA), is dedicated to empowering, connecting, mentoring, and supporting women throughout the pool, spa, and outdoor living industry. Through education, networking, philanthropy, and leadership opportunities, WITI fosters professional growth while giving back to communities through charitable initiatives such as the annual WITI Walk.
About the Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA)
The Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA) is a regional trade association serving the pool, spa, and outdoor living industry throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. For more than 65 years, NESPA has supported its members through education, advocacy, professional development, networking, and consumer outreach while promoting the highest standards of safety, professionalism, and industry excellence.
About Every Child a Swimmer
Every Child a Swimmer is a national nonprofit dedicated to reducing childhood drowning by providing swim lesson scholarships to children from low-income families, promoting water safety education, and advocating for legislation that expands access to drowning prevention initiatives. The organization believes every child deserves the opportunity to learn the life-saving skill of swimming.
Media Contact
Phone: 609.689.9111
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nespapool.org
Drone delivery may be the future of getting everyday purchases to your doorstep, but apparently Amazon still has a few kinks to work out — particularly when swimming pools are involved.
A video making the rounds on social media this week shows what should have been a routine Amazon drone delivery going very wrong. Instead of safely depositing the customer’s order on dry ground, the package winds up in the backyard swimming pool.
The incident is funny enough when viewed through the lens of an unexpected pool delivery. But it also highlights a very real challenge Amazon faces as it prepares to dramatically expand its Prime Air drone delivery program across the United States.
And remarkably, this isn’t the first time an Amazon drone has put a customer’s package in the pool.
Amazon Has Already Made This Mistake Before
In July 2025, Arizona resident Daniel Muniz decided to try Prime Air after seeing drone delivery available for his order in Avondale.
The delivery was captured on video.
Amazon’s drone successfully reached the property and released the shoebox-sized package over the designated area. There was just one problem: the downward force generated by the drone’s propellers pushed the package several feet across the yard and directly into Muniz’s swimming pool.
Fortunately, the contents weren’t particularly vulnerable to water. Muniz had ordered vitamins.
The incident was especially notable because Amazon’s delivery system is designed to identify suitable drop locations around a customer’s property. Amazon explains that its mapping technology identifies “delivery zones” free of obstacles and establishes appropriate delivery points within those areas.
The company even specifically acknowledges swimming pools as something the technology needs to recognize.
According to Amazon, a swimming pool can appear to be a flat surface in satellite imagery despite obviously being an unsuitable location for a package delivery. Once the drone reaches the designated location, the aircraft descends to approximately 13 feet above the ground, checks that the area is clear and releases the package.
In the Avondale incident, the package wasn’t intentionally dropped into the water. It initially landed on dry ground before the drone’s prop wash sent it into the pool.
Amazon apologized to the customer at the time, characterizing incidents like it as rare.
A year later, however, another swimming pool has clearly managed to intercept an Amazon delivery.
Pools Aren’t the Only Problem
Swimming pools haven’t been the only unexpected destinations for Amazon’s drones.
In another widely reported incident, an Amazon delivery drone came down in a residential garden after experiencing problems during operation. Other incidents have been considerably more serious than a wet package.
In February 2026, an Amazon Prime Air drone struck the exterior of an apartment complex in Richardson, Texas, before the damaged aircraft fell to the ground.
Amazon’s drone program has also faced scrutiny following collisions involving infrastructure. These episodes underscore the complexity of operating autonomous aircraft at scale in residential environments where drones must contend with buildings, trees, utility infrastructure, changing weather conditions and other obstacles.
Amazon says its latest MK30 drones use a sophisticated perception and “Detect-and-Avoid” system designed to identify obstacles and make navigation decisions autonomously.
That technology is going to become increasingly important because Amazon isn’t backing away from drone delivery.
It’s doing the opposite.
Amazon Plans a Massive Drone Delivery Expansion
Amazon announced this week that it intends to expand Prime Air to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026, a dramatic increase from the 11 locations where the service currently operates. New markets are expected to include areas around Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, Syracuse and Boise.
The company says each Prime Air location can serve communities within roughly a 7.5-mile radius. Its MK30 drones can transport eligible packages weighing up to five pounds, with Amazon targeting delivery times of roughly an hour or less.
Amazon has already completed hundreds of thousands of drone deliveries this year, according to Prime Air Vice President David Carbon.
The long-term ambitions are considerably larger.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has said the company believes drone delivery could eventually reach 30 million customers and handle as many as half a billion packages annually by 2030.
The appeal isn’t difficult to understand.
For small, lightweight purchases, a drone potentially eliminates much of the traditional last-mile delivery process. Instead of waiting for a delivery van to work its way through dozens or hundreds of stops, an individual aircraft can carry an order directly from a nearby fulfillment facility to a customer’s home.
Need sunscreen before heading outside? Batteries for a poolside speaker? A replacement part or bottle of test strips?
Amazon envisions those types of purchases arriving from the sky in less time than it might take someone to drive to a store and back.
The company says more than 60,000 products are already eligible for drone delivery in supported markets, ranging from household necessities to electronics.
That’s a compelling vision of where residential delivery could be headed.
The technology just needs to become consistently boring.
Right now, the occasional drone crash, unexpected landing or package taking a swim makes for an entertaining viral video. As Amazon expands Prime Air from a relatively limited program into hundreds of communities, however, the margin for these mistakes becomes increasingly important.
Delivering a bottle of vitamins into someone’s swimming pool is inconvenient and a little funny.
Doing the same thing with a smartphone probably isn’t.
Judging by the occasional package ending up at the bottom of a swimming pool, there are still a few bugs left to work out first.
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