Tourists staying in hotels across the Costa del Sol face having water meters installed near their bathrooms as Spain’s severe drought sees no sign of being over.
The Andalusian government says the average guest uses 350 litres of water per day, more than double of a resident at 112 litres.
Whilst tourism is highly valued across the region’s hotspots, which include Malaga, Marbella, Torremolinos and Rhonda, officials believe holidaymakers who want to use more water in their hotels rooms should pay more than those who are more thrifty with their showers.
There is also a proposal on the table that hotels should do away with all baths and have showers only.
The Andalusian government is currently negotiating with hotels to install metres in rooms to save water and is also studying the filling of swimming pools with seawater, a measure that Catalonia already includes in its emergency decree due to drought.
The intention is for those who consume more to pay more and thus discourage water waste, according to El Correo de Andalucia.
These meters would be installed in strategic places, such as access to the bathrooms, and the placement and implementation of the device would be paid for by the hotel. Reception would be responsible for the bills.
According to El Correo de Andalucia, this measure will be mandatory when the Government declares by decree the emergency situation due to the drought.
A spokesman from the Minister of Tourism, Arturo Berna said: “We are sensitive to the drought situation that Andalusia is experiencing and we are analysing the implementation of some measure that affects the rational and efficient use of water. Any measure that is put in place in operation will necessarily have the consensus of the sector.”
Another proposal on the table, which is being negotiated, is the replacement of practically 100% of bathtubs with showers. Added to this is the filling of leisure pools with seawater.
Last month, the Andalusian Tourism Department and the Costa del Sol hoteliers’ association (Aehcos) sent a message of calm to tourism regarding the impact of the drought, ensuring that there will be no shortage of water supply for the human consumption, despite the restrictions planned for this summer.
