With another scorching summer underway, Seville’s 700,000 residents have just five public recreational pools, or one for every 140,000 people. That is the lowest ratio among major Spanish cities, matching only Madrid, despite Seville’s record-breaking summer temperatures. Zaragoza, by contrast, has a similar population and a milder climate, yet operates 22 municipal pools, offering four times more public access to relief from the heat.
Frequent power outages in several neighborhoods during peak summer demand compound Seville’s pool shortage. Residents often face up to 24 hours without electricity, leaving them to cope with hot homes and spoiled food while finding other ways to cook. For many families unable to afford holidays, the lack of accessible pools and reliable power makes heatwaves a daily struggle. Information from the latest survey by the Centro de Estudios Andaluces, nearly 43% of Andalusians will not take a vacation this summer.
At the Entreflores pool in the Sevilla Este district, queues form before opening as locals seek respite. The facility, which can accommodate 525 users, recently came under city council control after a private club withdrew, bringing the number of public pools from four to five. Its future remains uncertain: local officials have yet to confirm whether it will stay public next year. Together, Seville’s five public pools can accommodate just 1,500 people, barely 0.2% of the city’s population.
Residents and local politicians have criticized the lack of investment in public recreational infrastructure. Calls for at least one pool per district have grown, with Seville’s 11 districts still underserved. Critics say the city’s focus on tourism and private development has left basic amenities for locals behind. The shortage of public drinking fountains also points to the city’s limited response to rising temperatures, even as many European cities adopt such measures.
The city council plans to build a new recreational pool for the Triana and Los Remedios neighborhoods next year. Other projects, including the Macarena pool, will be indoor facilities without green spaces. Officials acknowledge that getting through Seville’s summer without access to cooling infrastructure is a major challenge. Of the 6,134 new public and semi-public social housing units under construction, about half are planned to include pools.
The comparison with Zaragoza goes beyond public pools. Seville has 1,999 pools in total, including private and club facilities, or one for every 350 residents. Zaragoza has 4,348, or one for every 161 people. The cities have similar municipal budgets, but Zaragoza invests €10 million each summer in its pools and is building a 23rd facility. According to the national meteorological agency, Seville’s average highs in July and August reach 36°C, compared with 32°C in Zaragoza.
Many Seville residents report long waiting lists for pool passes and overcrowding at existing facilities. Some neighborhoods, including Palmete, have available land but no public pools, leaving families with limited mobility or financial means without options. The long-standing lack of municipal investment is often justified by Seville’s proximity to the coast and the presence of private clubs. But high membership fees and long waiting lists put those facilities out of reach for most people.
Since 1999, Seville has had both socialist and conservative governments, with each administration citing budget crises or shifting priorities to explain the slow progress. Some former officials say public management has lost ground to private concessions, steering investment toward indoor pools instead of open-air recreational spaces. Building a pool for 500 people is estimated to cost €5 to €6 million, but advocates say the real barrier is political will, not funding or space.
In some cases, residents have rented tourist apartments in their own neighborhoods just to use a community pool during heatwaves. The unusual workaround shows how acute the shortage has become and why Seville needs more public recreational infrastructure.
Spain’s major cities vary widely in public pool provision. Some, like Zaragoza, prioritize open-air pools as climate refuges; others lag behind despite facing harsher summer conditions. The gap raises broader questions about urban planning and social equity as southern Europe adapts to climate change.
