For the first time in Greece, hotels and tourist properties could use seawater to fill their pools. Previously, this practice was restricted to pools on ships. A legislative amendment from the Ministry of Tourism has introduced this option to conserve potable water in areas with limited resources. The prime minister initially announced this change as a step towards sustainable water management.
While the shift could make waves, some challenges remain. The proposed law includes room for improvement, especially regarding water quality controls. For instance, it permits chemically treated seawater to flow back into the sea, raising environmental concerns.
Breaking Down the Legislation
The regulation forms part of a broader draft law targeting short-term rental properties. It allows hotels, villas, and rented rooms across Greece to install pipelines for pumping and discharging seawater. These installations can include the necessary equipment and infrastructure for safe operation. However, the draft does not address water quality standards or how to manage treated pool water as waste.
Key Issues with Existing Legislation
- Old Frameworks: The foundation comes from a 1973 regulation, last updated in 2006. It is outdated, and prescribing materials, like metal piping, are no longer deemed practical.
- Limited Oversight: Crete has only one health inspector responsible for thousands of hotels, creating a lack of enforcement.
- Environmental Concerns: Today, seawater disposal practices are still unclearly regulated. Using existing frameworks, the law supports ship practices but leaves inland facilities vulnerable to legal and environmental complications.
Benefits of Seawater Pools for Tourists
- Gentler on Skin and Hair: Seawater pools offer a salt-softened alternative to chemically treated water, reducing irritation and damage. Worries about brittle hair or dry skin are replaced with a smoother swimming experience.
- Subtle Scent: Unlike traditional chlorine pools, chemically treated seawater has no substantial public pool smell—making your swim much more pleasant.
- Environmentally Significant: Reducing freshwater consumption is essential, especially for islands and areas with limited resources.
As one traveller, Maria Z., shared after swimming in a seawater pool: “It felt like a spa treatment. No harsh smells, just clean and crisp water!”
Drawbacks for Hotel Operators
- High Conversion Costs: Operators must replace metal components with corrosion-resistant materials and install specialized pumps, which are expensive upgrades.
- Corrosion Risks: Salt’s naturally corrosive properties can damage pool parts, patio stones, and furniture.
- Specialized Maintenance: Repairs require skilled technicians familiar with seawater systems, making maintenance potentially pricier.
Converting a large hotel with multiple pools to a seawater system could cost a fortune. Maintenance demands are a significant concern.
A Salty Decision: Is It Worth It?
Whether to swim in seawater pools or utilize them in a property depends on priorities. Tourists often value comfort, eco-friendliness, and experience. Property operators’ decisions hinge on balancing environmental responsibility with upfront costs and long-term upkeep.
A resort owner put it best: “Seawater pools are refreshing, but the effort to make them accessible needs to add up for everyone—not just tourists.”
Research, proper planning, and education around these systems will ultimately decide their success. Seawater pools could be the future of luxurious, sustainable swimming—but operators and legislators have plenty to fix before that idea truly holds water.
[…] Imagine a hotel pool shimmering with seawater instead of fresh water—that’s Greece’s latest legislative twist. A new law is set to allow hotels to pump seawater straight into their swimming pools. It’s branded as a solution to ease Greece’s freshwater shortages, especially where droughts hit hardest. But here’s the catch: critics argue it opens up a Pandora’s box of risks. From pollution fears to coastal disruptions, this move has sparked a wave of questions about its environmental and visual impact. Will Greece’s iconic coastal beauty survive this tug-of-war between tourism and sustainability? Readers can explore more about this topic at A Dash of Salt in Legislation in Greece. […]