In the 1970s, Vacarisses, a town near Barcelona, attracted many as people dreamed of spacious homes, lush gardens, and pools to savor long, hot summers. That dream still lingers in the collective memory of the region, even as drought pressures tighten the rules around water use.
Today, drought has become a pressing reality, pushing authorities to enforce stricter conservation measures. A new regulation will soon limit how often residents of the northeastern Catalonia region, including Vacarisses, can refill empty pools. The policy arrives after an unusually warm spring, signaling a summer that could be hotter than last year. The rule excludes public pools and hotels, safeguarding essential public and hospitality facilities.
Currently, Spain faces a striking imbalance in water resources, with roughly one swimming pool for every 37 people. As water scarcity grows more acute, these facilities sit at the center of public attention and policy debates about sustainable recreation and resource management.
Vacarisses, a sparsely populated town of several dozen subdivisions perched near the Montserrat range, expects another challenging summer following a prior extreme event. In 2019 the municipality endured a 16 hour water outage when aquifers dried up. The mayor, Antoni Masana, describes pool restrictions as a necessary measure and notes that the town is actively drilling new wells to bolster supply.
Masana points to climate change as a driver of diminishing rainfall, urging a rethink of the local water model to fit a new reality. Catalonia is among the driest regions in Spain, with some reservoirs operating at critically low levels. Meteorological data indicate that April was Spain’s hottest and driest month since record keeping began in 1961.
Unfair perceptions and local resilience
Locally Vacarisses is known for its large number of pools. With around 7,000 residents and more than 1,500 registered pools, some observers question the accuracy of that figure, arguing there may be fewer than claimed, yet pools remain a visible symbol of the town’s lifestyle. A resident, Antonia León García, notes that visitors often respond with astonishment when hearing Vacarisses is home to so many pools, and the comment can feel tiresome to locals.
Even as pools sit empty for long periods, some residents have adapted by having water delivered by trucks when a refill seems essential. The broader critique centers on water policy, with many calling for a more coherent national strategy that reduces reliance on ponds and promotes desalination or treated water for irrigation and other non-potable uses. Local voices emphasize that the solution must come from robust, scalable water projects that work in tandem with conservation efforts.
Experts highlight that a large share of Spain’s water use goes to agriculture, underscoring the need for integrated water management. Acknowledging this, a regional authority stresses the importance of balancing immediate needs with long term sustainability to avoid repeated crises during droughts. Public policy discussions continue about the role of pricing, allocation, and incentives that could steer farmers toward higher-cost desalinated water when necessary.
Commentary from water policy researchers underscores a lack of centralized mechanisms that could guide farmers toward more efficient water use and ensure fair pricing during dry spells. Critics argue that decisions around water rates are often made by local councils under political pressure, which can lead to inconsistent application and pre election promises that do not always align with ecological realities.
Majorca and the pool phenomenon
Across the Balearic Islands, the growth of private pools has surged in recent years. Data from 2015 to 2021 show a rapid pace of construction, with projections roughly averaging several new pools each week. Scholars attribute this trend to a real estate boom driven by demand from northern European buyers looking for second homes, paired with favorable climate and lifestyle narratives. In response, regional authorities have placed limits on new pool construction in rural properties, capping the number per property and setting water volume restrictions to curb demand while preserving essential water resources.
On the island of Mallorca, a separate policy shift exempts public pools and pools associated with hotels or larger building complexes after political discussions with local leaders who view pools as climate shelters in a hot country. The broader aim is to foster resilience during heat waves while maintaining essential services.
Meanwhile, Vacarisses remains a place many still associate with the suburban dream. Advertisements celebrate the idea of a bright future in a home with a pool near tranquil hillsides, a reminder of how lifestyle marketing intersects with water realities in the region.
Ongoing discussions and planning continue as authorities and residents seek a balanced path forward that protects water supplies while allowing communities to thrive in a warming climate. The environmental department remains a central point for public discourse and policy proposals to ensure transparent, practical solutions for drought resilience.
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