Municipal swimming pools could be refilled if used as climate shelters

The Catalan government is putting together a census of climate shelters that can be used this summer, which could include municipal swimming pools. 

Climate Action minister David Mascort told public broadcaster TV3 on Monday that this could allow swimming pools designated as climate shelters to be filled with water. 

Current drought restrictions prohibit refilling swimming pools in municipalities where a drought emergency has been declared – over 200 in Catalonia, including Barcelona. 

Mascort said that if these municipalities remained in the emergency stage, the ban on filling pools would remain – and it must be remembered that "there is no water" – but he left the door open for pools to be refilled in specific cases. 

The climate minister gave an example: if there is a neighborhood where the pool is a climate shelter and there is no other space in the area to take refuge, such as a library. 

"We could look at turning that pool into a climate shelter and filling it up," he said, clarifying "but under normal circumstances, no." 

Shipping water 

Mascort also said that bringing water to Barcelona on ships was not the solution to the drought, but that a "structural" solution is needed. 

Earlier this month, Catalan and Spanish authorities agreed to ship water into Catalonia from neighboring Valencia, with Spain covering the cost of producing the desalinated water, and Catalonia paying for it to be transported from Sagunt.