Main Geoenvironmental Studies to Launch New Medical Spa: The Case of the SãoTiago Medical Spa

Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beira Interior University, Covilhã, Portugal

Abstract: In order to have a new Medical Spa in Portugal, a new natural mineral water must first be officially registered and submitted to medical-hydrological studies that prove the therapeutic indications of that water, so that it can be used in health activities. For a groundwater to be classified as natural mineral water, a wide range of geoenvironmental studies must be carried out and several bureaucratic procedures must be developed to propose to the State the recognition of that resource as natural mineral water. The present work corresponds to a recently licensed natural mineral water, with application in medical spa activity (health and wellness), and that after its licensing was named “Termas de São Tiago”. It is emphasized that there was no pre-existence of ancient Medical Spa on the site. Thus, in this paper the main aspects that led to the licensing of the new natural mineral water are presented, in particular, the geomorphological, geological, hydrogeoenvironmental aspects and the quality of the resource. With those unpublished technical elements, it was possible to sequence other medical studies, which together led to the current reality, which is the fact that in a place in the interior of Portugal (Penamacor), there are new Medical Spa in association with a new Hotel, which together will help to leverage the local economy that has been in decay, due to local depopulation.