Spain's public pools: the day the middle class stopped going

Spain's public pools: the day the middle class stopped going

What does a person look for when they go to a public pool in the middle of a heatwave? Peace and quiet, space, a dip. What they find, according to a growing number of accounts, is the exact opposite: crowds, music at full volume, play-fighting and an atmosphere many describe as "impassable". The experience is not new, but it has intensified over the past decade to the point that large sections of the middle class have deserted municipal facilities.

The problem is not just capacity. Public pools in large cities have become gathering spots for groups of young people who, in many cases, take over the space with loudspeakers and a defiant attitude. Swimmers looking for a family day out or a quiet chat feel pushed out. It is not an isolated perception: those who can afford it opt for housing developments with a communal pool, a second home or friends' houses. "Thirty years ago, most Spaniards had access to a pool without going to the municipal one," sums up a recurring analysis.

Behind the exodus lies a sociological and economic phenomenon. Municipal investment in maintenance and supervision has not kept pace with the rise in users. The result is a vicious circle: less quality, more overcrowding, more friction. Meanwhile, the privatisation of water-based leisure advances with little public debate.

The surprising figure: despite the widespread rejection, queues at municipal pools keep growing on days of extreme heat. The public offer remains the only option for those with no alternatives. Until the next heatwave arrives, and the next story from someone who swears they will never go back.