Figueres pools get 720,279 euro upgrade, close two weeks

Figueres City Council will carry out a full refurbishment of its municipal swimming pool complex, with a total investment of 720,279 euros spread over this autumn and 2027.

The project covers the covered and outdoor pools. It includes new windows, fresh paint inside and out, a new water filtration system with ultraviolet treatment, better climate control and the renovation of part of the changing rooms.

The work is backed by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Catalan regional government.

Two-week closure from 26 October

The pool will be emptied and closed to the public from 26 October to 8 November.

This 15-day closure replaces the maintenance shutdown that normally takes place over Christmas. That Christmas closure will not be needed this year, so the pool is expected to stay open during the holidays.

How the work is phased

The project is split into two stages.

From mid-October until the end of November, contractors will replace the windows and the water filters and complete the painting work.

In 2027, the focus moves to climate control, meaning the air and humidity inside the pool hall. The women's changing room will also be renovated next year.

Who pays

The Generalitat is contributing 454,717 euros, or 63% of the cost. The money comes from its Pla de Xoc, an emergency programme to improve sports facilities across Catalonia.

Figueres City Council is covering the remaining 265,562 euros, or 37%.

The Diputació de Girona, the provincial council, has also awarded a 10,000 euro grant. It comes from its programme supporting the upgrading of sports facilities and is earmarked for the new windows and water filters.

First new windows since 1984

The complex was built in 1984. This is the first time all of its windows will be replaced.

There are 21 large windows around the pool, and many are in poor condition. Some have broken outer panes. Others can no longer be opened or closed because of humidity and age.

The existing glass is also not laminated, which the council says poses a risk to users if it breaks.

The new windows will have aluminium frames and fixed glass, with a lever system to open and close them.

Walls, doors and wiring

The inside and outside walls will also get a facelift. In many places the paint has come away, and in some areas the cement render itself is cracked and detached.

Walls will be repaired and repainted, and rusted doors will be treated and painted.

Wiring and equipment will also be renewed. This includes emergency lighting, power sockets, the public address system and the Wi-Fi network.

Better water quality

Water treatment was one of the main outstanding problems at the facility.

The current system is outdated and has to be checked constantly in person by staff. The new filters and an added ultraviolet system are designed to improve the quality of the filtered water.

They will also allow better monitoring of key water readings: free chlorine, pH, redox potential and temperature. Staff will be able to adjust these more easily.

The improvements will apply to both the indoor pools and the outdoor pool.

New dehumidifier in 2027

Next year, the council will replace the pool's dehumidifier. This is the climate control unit that reduces and controls excess moisture in the air of an enclosed space, which matters a lot in an indoor pool hall.

The 2027 budget also includes money to renovate part of the changing rooms.

What This Means

For swimmers in Figueres and the surrounding Alt Empordà, including people who drive in from Castelló d'Empúries and Empuriabrava, the short-term impact is limited. There is a two-week gap at the end of October and early November. In exchange, the pool should stay open over Christmas, when many families have more free time.

The details suggest the upgrade is overdue rather than cosmetic. Broken and non-laminated glass, peeling render and a water system that needs constant manual checks point to a building that has aged after four decades of heavy use. Safer glazing and more reliable water control should make a visible difference for regular users.

The funding model is also worth noting. Most of the money comes from the Generalitat's Pla de Xoc for sports facilities, with the council paying just over a third. It comes as Figueres is also watching its finances on other fronts, including its decision to freeze the 2027 waste tax. Regional support appears to be making larger maintenance projects possible without putting all the cost on local budgets.

The pool works are one of several council projects under way in the town, alongside the Els Pins street works that also begin on 26 October.

It is worth watching whether the first phase finishes on schedule by the end of November and whether the 2027 stage goes ahead as planned. The dehumidifier and changing room work may be less visible, but users are likely to notice them every day. Readers may also want to check whether other municipalities in the area tap the same Pla de Xoc funding for their own ageing sports facilities.