British holidaymakers heading to Spain this summer could face hundreds of pools being closed due to a water ban affecting the region.
In Malaga and surrounding areas, a regional water ban is set to come into force quicker than first anticipated.
A water-saving plan was said to be rolled out by authorities in September, however, the strict measures which limit the use of water have already led to pool closures as Spain temperatures soar above 40C.
Restrictions were put in place last week in areas that rely on water from the La Viñuela reservoir.
READ MORE: Deadly heatwave hits Spain as British tourists warned ‘it’s too hot to sleep’
Using water to clean streets, in fountains, public showers or for filling/refilling swimming pools are all included in the ban.
This could affect the busy tourist period with hotels not being able to refill their pools.
Swimming pools in the La Axarquía region of Malaga are the first to close as a result of the restrictions, according to InSpainNews.
Local property agents told local media that the region faces an uphill battle with Spanish government data indicating the province of Málaga currently has 78,606 swimming pools.
Mercedes González Postigo, from the Association of Property Managers of Málaga, said: “The Associations of Owners are obliged to fill five per cent of the water in the swimming pools with drinking water every day.
“Without drinking water, they have to resort to the non-potable.
“This water must then comply with the swimming pool decree. It’s not easy to find non-potable water that we can use.
“We might succeed, but with the high demand, it could take up to 20 days.”
Olive Press reported that hundreds of pools used by the 12 million international tourists estimated by official statistics to visit the region each year are at risk of closure.
The mayor of Alhaurín de la Torre (Málaga), Joaquín Villanova, said the water ban would be signed in the coming days.
