Major blow to Brit tourists in Spain as swimming pool crisis could ruin their summer holiday
BRIT tourists are facing a holiday nightmare as hundreds of swimming pools in Spain could be closed this summer.
A sweeping regional water ban is set to come in for Malaga and nearby areas as the region grapples with sweltering temperatures.
The strict measures limit the use of water – and have already led to the first closures of pools at the popular travel destination.
Authorities were reportedly preparing for the water-saving plan to be rolled out in September.
But as the summer weather begins to heat up to a scorching 42C in Spain, the restrictions have come in quicker than foreseen – putting poolside getaways at risk.
Areas that rely on water from the La Viñuela reservoir in the area saw restrictions put in place last week.
The ban includes using water in the cleaning of streets, fountains, public showers the filling or refilling of swimming pools.
It means hotels in the region will struggle to refill their pools for the busy tourist season.
According to InSpainNews, the restrictions have led to the closures of the first swimming pools in the La Axarquía region of Malaga.
Based on Spanish government data, the province of Málaga currently has 78,606 swimming pools.
Of these, 2,940 are located in Vélez-Málaga, while Málaga City and Marbella have 5,926 and 10,744 respectively.
Mercedes González Postigo, from the Association of Property Managers of Málaga, told local media that the region was facing an uphill battle.
She said: “The Associations of Owners are obliged to fill five per cent of the water in the swimming pools with drinking water every day.
“Without drinking water, they have to resort to the non-potable.
“This water must then comply with the swimming pool decree. It’s not easy to find non-potable water that we can use.
“We might succeed, but with the high demand, it could take up to 20 days.”
Official statistics show more than 12 million international tourists visit the region every year.
And as a result of the ban, hundreds of the swimming pools they use will come under threat, the Olive Press reported.
Joaquín Villanova, the mayor of Alhaurín de la Torre (Málaga), said the water ban would be signed in the coming days.
He said: “It is something that must be done.
“This is a measure that little by little has been implemented in the municipality.”
Just last year, Costa del Sol council chiefs turned off beach showers at the height of the summer because of the worsening drought.
At the time, Velez-Malaga mayor Antonio Moreno Ferrer said: “It’s not an easy decision to take at the height of summer with our beaches full of locals and visitors and we’re sorry for the inconvenience this can cause.
“But we’re facing a critical situation and any measure that can help to lessen the effects of the drought has to be adopted, starting with local councils setting an example.”
It comes as British holidaymakers were warned of a “Level 1 heat alert” across Spain as sweltering 42C weather is on its way.
The first sizzling heatwave of the summer will hit popular resorts such as Benidorm and the islands of Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza, according to Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET.
On Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach between 38C and 40C – but the sweltering heat wave will continue upwards in the following days.
By Tuesday, AEMET expects a peak of 42C, which will feel even hotter owing to high humidity.
The hardest hit areas will be the Balearic Islands – Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera.
“We are currently recording temperatures slightly above normal, one or two degrees above normal,” María José Guerrero, a spokesperson for AEMET told Majorca Daily.
Spain has had a warmer than average spring and summer so far, and holidaymakers were warned in June of an “extremely hot” time ahead.
The heat has already been building in Spain after the country registered its hottest spring on record as well as its second driest.