The leaks around the lights can be stopped with hydraulic cement. The other leaks are due to improper shotcrete application. You most likely have a sand lens where the water is leaking. You need to pull out that section of shotcrete and re shoot. I always put Mira Drain on my pools that are at the bottom of a slope or hill. Mira drain is used on basements for example to wick away water from the concrete and direct it to another place. A water proofing agent can help but it all starts with the P.S.I. of the shotcrete. All concrete is permeable to water . That's why the ACI requires certain minimum requirement for swimming pools. A drainage sump under the pool may also help.

You can make a pool water tight with proper shotcrete application.

Thanks, I know they used that type of cement to fill the holes that they drilled to allow some of the water to escape in the weep areas. I believe he said the plaster doesn't adhere well to that cement though and they have since scored all areas with hydraulic cemented holes. Will look into your other suggestions above. It started drying out fairly well at the end of April (see below) , but recent rains have taken us three steps back now!! If it dries on own with warmer/drier weather and we don't remove/replace shotcrete, is my plaster going to be short-lived when the rains return every year?

I wish I had more info, many weeks to dig? Maybe Fountain Hills in Az solid rock. Raised skimmer? Your gunite looks good, what PSI ? This is 100% a drainage issue. With this leaching issue yes more drainage. 8 months? Is there a hydrostatic valve @ main drain for ground water? Rust from your rebar will make its way through the plaster. Stick with your beverage and this is all fixable. Swimming soon.

Did you ever get to plaster?? Curious as we are in a similar position with our pool in Texas.

It looks great! I really like your water line tile choice.

Thanks Julie! Of course, I had to look at everything and obsess about it, but my eye kept going back to the random mosaic. So glad I listened to my gut and went with it!!

Been waiting since January for plaster also. Same issues as you but my builder is offering NO help or ideas. Your story gives me some hope that we may be swimming this summer!!

Alison, FWIW, I asked about what would happen if didn't resolve on it's own & plastering twice, as if in a remodel, was mentioned as a last-resort option. (He may have said "bond coat," but I'm not sure if I am remembering correctly.) If I had known that was an option and could have had it finished months sooner for a few thousand extra, I think I would have done it!!

I plastered swimming pools for seventeen years and have seen just about everything under the sun when it comes to pools I’m a white plaster finisher and certified Pebble Tec applicator first of all your builder should have installed a bed of gravel below the gunite second placed a two inch pvc pipe into it full of holes and a hydrostattic valve level with the main drain plaster crews get a Honda 5 hp pump hooked up to hydro pipe clean pool as always blow torch walls and mix a hot batch of cement (pure) no sand plenty of calcium so it’s hot make sure pump is on at all times the object is to get all water to come out of one hole slam hot cement into weep holes and it will dry if it’s hot enough with the pump running and the hose through the main drain ring start plaster or pebble that pool will finish I’ve seen and participated in too many to mention in and around water here in the Central Valley good luck enjoy I hope I was of help to builders plasters and home owners alike ✌🏼 PEACE!!!

OP: Can you give an update? We're in this situation now.

Us too! any suggestions would be helpful