The Barcelona City Council, Fluidra and INDESCAT team up to improve the sustainability and efficiency of swimming pools

Fluidra, a global leader in connected equipment and solutions for the pool and wellness sector, together with the Barcelona City Council and INDESCAT - the Catalan sports industry cluster - have teamed up on a new project, BCN Water Solutions. The goal is to ascertain the needs and challenges faced by sports centers and facilities with pools and to identify opportunities to improve sustainability, responsible water use, energy efficiency and the user experience at these facilities. 

During the first stage of the collaborative effort, a study was conducted to identify the most pressing challenges. As a result, six key areas for improvement were identified: reduction of water consumption, optimization of energy costs, digitalization, enhanced user experience, efficient infrastructure management and predictive maintenance.

Digitalization as a key solution

In the course of preparing the study, opportunities for improving the use of these spaces were also identified. In particular, digitalization plays a key role in optimizing resource management and improving operating efficiency. The implementation of technologies such as measurement and simulation systems, along with the use of control panels in facilities, enables informed decision-making. Meanwhile, non-digital solutions, such as pool covers to prevent evaporation, support efforts to improve sustainability and water conservation.

Finding a new approach to enhance the user experience is also important. To that end, it makes sense to transform facilities with pools into multifunctional spaces that can meet the needs of different types of users, integrating athletic, recreational and social uses to create inclusive environments that satisfy current demands.

The study participants included 18 sports centers, various business clusters, public administrations and sectoral organizations from the Barcelona metropolitan area, as well as a technology center and a university.

According to David Escudé, Councilman responsible for Sports on the Barcelona City Council: “A few days ago we announced the results of the “Barcelona for Sustainable Sports” awards. A total of 57 projects spearheaded by public and private sports centers in Barcelona will receive €4 million for measures to reduce consumption and improve the sustainable use of water. Along the same lines, the BCN Water Solutions project with Fluidra and INDESCAT is a further demonstration of our commitment to the environment, to the search for innovative solutions, and to the sustainable management and efficiency of sports facilities in both the short and long term.”

“At Fluidra, we are committed to innovation and sustainability as fundamental pillars of our business. This project is a clear example of how strategic partnerships with entities such as INDESCAT and the Barcelona City Council allow us to address the major challenges the sector faces and to find solutions that improve the efficiency and environmental impact of pool facilities,” says Carlos Franquesa, Fluidra’s President of Southern Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

 “The BCN Water Solutions project exemplifies one of our missions as a cluster: to bring talent, knowledge and resources together to respond to the major challenges faced by sports centers with pools and by the manufacturers and suppliers of solutions for these facilities. Fluidra's strategic partnership with INDESCAT and the Barcelona City Council has allowed us to work together to gather data and make proposals designed to improve the sustainability, innovation and energy efficiency of the city's pools, with an innovative and forward-looking vision”, explains Anna Pruna, president of INDESCAT.