The Government has already informed the gyms and sports clubs the details of the new restriction that will affect showers. Which facilities should close and when? As various operators who have already been notified of the action plan explain to EL PERIÓDICO, in phase 2 of the emergency (if it does not rain before April), the use of showers could be prohibited in some centers. However, emergency 1 due to drought is scheduled to be declared on February 1, which will already entail some restrictions. The worst stage of this Red light would affect Barcelona and the majority of towns in the internal basins (specifically, these are the towns supplied by the Ter-Llobregat system)
Should the showers be closed in this first phase? Not at the beginning. As reported this morning by the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) in a meeting with the sector, sports centers that have poolthey must compensate for wasted water to fill the pool. They can do this by closing some showers or reducing water use on the premises otherwise. Whereas in the case of reaching phase 2 (in April, if it does not rain enough before) it will be mandatory for sports centers that need to fill swimming pools close the showers. But gyms without pools (or with swimming pools) saltwater) will be able to keep the showers in operation during phases 1 and 2 of the emergency.
Unwatered lawn
In the worst case, if summer were to arrive without rain, the emergency 3which would also force sports centers without pool to close their showers. At that time, with the current state of water reserves, there is still room to go before being declared in Barcelona and its surroundings.
The measures in emergency period 1 will already affect the 37 municipalities of Empordà and Baix Camp (in addition to Vallirana). Are exceptionswhich will allow us to continue using swimming pools, will be valid for sports clubs included in the Generalitat census. In the case of outdoor swimming pools where federated sports are practiced, the showers must be closed in phase 1, since these spaces suffer more from evaporation.
In the case of clubs that they need to water the lawn, the same thing will happen. In emergency 1, if they continue watering, they must compensate the irrigation water expenditure as they consider. In emergency 2, if they continue watering, they must close the showers. And in emergency 3, they will not be able to water directly. Emergency 3, if it continues without rain, could be declared at the end of spring.
The sector defends its savings measures
He sector of the sport had been worried for months about the possible restrictions that could affect them in the event of an emergency. Initially, it was planned to directly prohibit the filling of swimming pools and even close showers, which caused alarm when it was announced in mid-December. Finally, the Government has listened to some of their demands and their figures.
To the meeting this Monday Representatives of the Association of Catalan Fitness Club Companies (Adecaf), important clubs such as DiR, Gestiona (the Catalan association of public sports center operators) and swimming club associations attended.
Sources of Manage (which operates almost 90% of the supply of sports centers in Barcelona, and 40% of all of Catalonia) have appreciated that the Government has reversed its positioning from a month ago, and has listened to the contributions of the sector to create an implementation “progressive” of measures. But they have insisted that “much more dialogue” is necessary with those affected, given the serious effects that the restrictions can have on sports practice.
In this sense, the same spokesperson recalled that the renewal of water in swimming pools is currently much lower than the 5% that was included in the 1986 regulation, and that in many cases it is around 1% or less given the efforts made by the sector for its recirculation and optimization. He manages to document with his analyzes that the dispensers in his showers are around 12 liters per minute of consumption compared to double that in private homes. Besides, the rotation of users, their rush and the fact that the water comes out directly hot means that showering in the gym even saves water, they argue.
Therefore they suggest that if with the measures introduced in the Catalan centers, plus the awareness Among users, it is possible to reduce water consumption by 20 or 25%, the Government makes its demands more flexible.
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DiR, with 100,000 members and 98,000 square meters of facilities, is the main chain of private gyms. It has been deploying water-saving measures for years, sources from the center highlight, such as reducing the duration of each pulse of water to a minimum of 10 seconds, as well as the volume of water (from 4 to 6 liters) and its mixture with air to optimize it. , thanks to the new shower heads. “Consumption is 30% lower in gyms,” they maintain. The same thing happens with swimming pools, where the water is treated and reinserted into the circuit without loss, they defend.
The club remembers that physical activity is an “essential good”, as the pandemic confirmed, and that the sector has not yet recovered from the crisis they suffered during covid-19. Without showers, many users who choose gyms or centers close to home or work could choose not to attend due to the complication of not being able to wash after exercise. They support the fact that some of their demands have been met, but they regret not having been summoned until one day before the entry into force of the decree and they ask for more voice, as well as aid and resources from the Administration so that not all the effort is borne by the operators.