Barcelona’s metropolitan beaches will not have showers or footbaths this summer, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area Authority (AMB) has announced.
This measure is implemented as part of the efforts to save water due to the exceptional drought situation facing the region.
It is estimated that this decision will save 80,000 cubic meters of water from June to September 2023.
Daniel Palacios, head of the beach service, explained that this measure will save 20,000 cubic meters of water per month.
Although the month of May has recorded sporadic rains and storms on the Catalan coast, the persistent drought has led to this decision to reduce water consumption.
There will be no footbaths or showers on the beaches along with other measures
In addition to the suspension of showers and footbaths, the AMB has implemented other water-saving measures.
Among them, the manual cleaning of furniture and facilities, which has allowed a reduction of up to 80% in the use of water for pressure cleaning.
The internal faucets in all showers and footbaths have also been renewed to minimize possible water leaks in the pipes.
In addition, an exhaustive control of the meters is carried out in order to eliminate water losses in the pipelines as much as possible.
The response time to the detection of leaks in the facilities of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area has also been reduced.
Other new products for the upcoming summer
Among the novelties for this summer season, 14 pergolas will be installed on the beaches of the metropolitan area.
These 25 square meter pergolas are built with wood and steel structure.
They will offer users with disabilities a shaded area and flat terrain, without slopes, so that they can enjoy the beaches in a more accessible way.
Although the absence of showers and footbaths may be an inconvenience for bathers, it is important to understand the need to take water-saving measures in a drought context.
This initiative seeks to preserve natural resources and promote sustainability on Barcelona’s metropolitan beaches.
It also promotes the protection of dunes and provides long-term solutions to address coastal challenges.
Incidentally, at a press conference in Gavà, the high season of the AMB beaches was presented, where the “dunes were defended as a space for native fauna and flora by the sea”.
They are a landscape and biodiversity factor that must be preserved.
Despite the structural regression of the coastline, the AMB announced that the area of dunes on metropolitan beaches has increased by approximately five hectares.
The dunes provide greater protection against storms as they act as a natural shield.
