The same entity that awarded the Blue Flag to beaches like Maspalomas in southern Gran Canaria has requested the removal of showers due to the expense they generate. This seemingly minor detail reveals the flaws in our model: beach showers are on their last legs. What until now was a basic service, almost an acquired right for bathers, is emerging as an unsustainable luxury in the era of scarcity. And in southern Gran Canaria, where water is gold, this measure is not an eccentricity, but an imperative.
It's common to see tourists, after a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Mogán Coast, or residents after a walk through the Maspalomas Dunes, reaching for the shower to rinse off the salt and sand. An innocent gesture, some might say. An unacceptable waste, voices defending sustainability now claim. Curious fact: there are areas along the Mogán coast where salt water is already used to provide this service.
Drought episodes, which, although this year's rains have provided a respite, are a recurring threat in our region, are the main reason. But not the only one. There is a change in mentality, driven by associations and municipalities, and supported by citizen movements seeking to protect our natural resources. The accusation is clear: the indiscriminate use of a resource that, having no direct cost to the user, is wasted without conscience.
The Environmental and Consumer Education Association (ADEAC), the entity empowered to award the coveted Blue Flags to our beaches, has raised its voice. And its influence is paramount. Excessive use of these showers can lead to penalties, even the withdrawal of the distinction. In southern Gran Canaria, where the Blue Flag is a major tourist attraction, this warning carries the weight of gold. This is not a "passing fad," but a requirement that is directly linked to the image and competitiveness of our main economic engine.
The ADEAC sends a clear message to bathers and tourists: use the showers in your homes or hotels. It's "uncomfortable," yes, but saving "liters and liters of unnecessary water" is the priority. The alternative? A humble bottle of water for rinsing feet and legs. A simple measure that, ultimately, demands a cultural shift and an individual commitment that many are unwilling to make right away. Each shower, they claim, consumes between 30 and 40 liters of water, an excessive expense, they say, to address global warming. They propose alternatives, such as replacing fresh water with salt water. This is already being implemented in some Canary Islands municipalities.
Last summer, Catalonia implemented a ban on showers on its beaches due to the drought. Despite initial reluctance, residents accepted the measure, and the savings were "significant." Sanxenxo, in Galicia, has been a pioneer in removing them for purely environmental reasons, with "impressive" results and few complaints. These services have even been suspended on beaches in Málaga.
And in southern Gran Canaria, where water is not just a resource but the limiting factor in our development, this measure seems not only necessary, but urgent. The wasteful tourism model has an expiration date. The showers on our beaches, that small detail of vacation comfort, are a symbol of a dying era.
