Every day, a single guest at a Polish spa uses an average of 200 to 500 liters of water. That’s significantly more than an average family uses at home in an entire day.
The hotel spa in the Tatra Mountains recently calculated its water usage—it came out to exactly 300 liters per person. Multiply that by the number of guests and it becomes a serious issue. Especially considering that Poland has only “1,600 m³ of water per person per year,” placing us among the countries with the lowest resources in the entire European Union.
Data from 2023 shows that the situation is getting worse. Droughts, rising temperatures, more spa facilities – everything is heading in the wrong direction. And we keep filling up jacuzzis and luxury bathtubs as if water were infinite.
Spa and water: why saving can’t wait?
In 2025, the industry faces new pressures. The European Union’s “Blue Deal” introduces stricter water management requirements. At the same time, in November, the president vetoed the water law, creating a peculiar situation—with European regulations on one hand, and a lack of clear national legislation on the other.
Guests are also changing their expectations. More and more often, they ask about eco-friendly solutions. They want luxury, but not at the expense of the environment. It may sound like a contradiction, but that’s exactly what today’s market looks like.
The problem is real and cannot wait for better times. That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look at:
- How the spa industry has dealt with water restrictions in the past
- Which water-saving technologies actually work in Polish facilities
- What financial benefits does conscious water management offer
- How to meet your guests’ expectations while saving money at the same time
You can’t pretend the problem doesn’t exist. Every drop counts, and the decisions we make now will shape the future of the entire industry.
To understand where we’re headed, we first need to look at where we’ve come from.
From Roman baths to the EU’s “Blue Deal” – the evolution of water management in spas
Sometimes I wonder how it’s possible that the ancient Romans had a better approach to water in their baths than we did just 30 years ago. At least they considered circulation and quality—while we simply let it run from the taps.
| Year | Event/Consequence |
|---|---|
| Antiquity | Roman baths – the first recirculation systems |
| 1989-2000 | Transformation in Poland – water treated as an unlimited resource |
| 2000 | Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC |
| 2004 | Poland’s accession to the EU – new standards |
| 2006 | The first monitoring systems in Zakopane spas |
| 2015, 2018-2019 | Droughts as a Turning Point |
| 2020-2021 | The pandemic and the rise of environmental awareness |
The 1990s were a completely different era. I remember reports from a private sanatorium in Ciechocinek—water was flowing in streams, and no one cared about the costs. After decades of shortages, suddenly everything seemed endlessly available. The owners were focused mainly on profit, not on sustainable development.
Real change came with the European Union. The Water Framework Directive may sound boring, but it changed everything. Suddenly, we had to monitor every drop. In 2006, spas in Zakopane were among the first to implement consumption tracking systems—before that, no one even knew exactly how much we were using.
The droughts of 2015 and 2018-2019 were a wake-up call for the entire industry. Suddenly, it became clear that this “infinite” water supply actually has its limits. The 2021 report “Water Resources in Poland” states plainly: “Extreme weather events have forced a revision of existing practices in the health tourism sector.”
The COVID-19 pandemic strangely accelerated everything. People stayed at home, thinking about their health and the environment. Google Trends shows a 70% increase in searches for “eco spa” in 2021. This is no coincidence—customers started choosing places that care for the planet.
Today we have the European Green Deal and its “Blue Deal” focused on water. This is another step in an evolution that has been ongoing for thousands of years. From Roman aqueducts, through the carefree 1990s, to today’s intelligent management systems.
This entire journey shows one thing – awareness comes from necessity. The Romans had to conserve because water was precious. We forgot that lesson for several decades, but climate and regulations have reminded us of it quite harshly.
Technologies and procedures that today reduce consumption by 50%
Today, we’re installing things we could only dream of ten years ago. The owner of a spa in Sopot recently showed me a phone app—he could see in real time how much water each device in the facility was using. This isn’t science fiction; it’s standard IoT technology.
Greywater recycling systems are actually very simple. Water from showers flows into a special tank, passes through a UV filter that eliminates bacteria, and then through an osmosis membrane. The clean water is then recirculated. The cost? Around 50,000 to 100,000 PLN for installation. It sounds expensive, but a 50 percent reduction in water usage is impressive.
IoT sensors are a whole different story. They measure WUE – Water Use Efficiency – and show exactly where water is being wasted. In Sopot, they’re testing an app that sends an alert when consumption exceeds the set limits. The staff immediately know there’s a malfunction somewhere or someone has left a tap running.
Among the simpler solutions are aerators and low-flow showers. A flow rate of 6–9 liters per minute instead of the standard 15–20. Data from Gov.pl from 2022 shows savings of around 40 percent. Guests often don’t even notice any difference in comfort.
Closed-loop pool systems are a technology I saw at a Warsaw spa in 2021. Less than 1 percent evaporation per day. The water circulates in a loop, we only top up the losses. The system automatically doses chemicals and monitors pH.
Operational procedures have also changed:
- Daily monitoring of WUE indicators by staff
- Weekly recycling facility inspections
- Monthly calibration of IoT sensors
| Technology | Installation cost | % savings | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greywater recycling | 50,000-100,000 PLN | 50% | Spa Sopot 2025 |
| IoT WUE sensors | 15,000-25,000 PLN | 30% | Test deployment |
| Low-flow showers | 5,000-10,000 PLN | 40% | Gov.pl data 2022 |
| Closed pool circulation | 80,000-150,000 PLN | 60% | Warsaw 2021 |
The effectiveness of these solutions depends on the size of the property and the guest profile, but the numbers don’t lie—the savings are real.
These installations require initial investment, but each technology has its own economic justification and return on investment.
Balance of benefits – the economic and social impact of eco-friendly spas
I’ve been wondering lately whether all these eco-friendly solutions in spas are actually good business or just sound nice in marketing. The numbers speak for themselves.
A hotel from the Orbis chain saw its water bills drop by 22.3% in the very first year after installing a water-saving system. That’s real money—instead of monthly water costs of 15,000 PLN, the savings amounted to over 3,300 PLN every month. Payback period? Less than three years.
| Initial investment | Annual savings | Return period |
|---|---|---|
| 120,000 PLN | 39,600 PLN | 3.0 years |
“Today’s customers consciously choose environmentally friendly properties,” explains a tourism industry expert. And they’re right. A 2023 Rp.pl report shows a 15% increase in bookings among travelers seeking eco-friendly options. These are no longer isolated cases—this is a trend.
But what surprises me most is the social aspect. A study by PAN this year showed that guests who were educated about saving water reduced their shower time from 8 to 5 minutes. It sounds unbelievable, but it really works in practice. People just need a reminder.
A spa that communicates its eco-friendly initiatives creates a completely different brand <a href=”https://luxurynews.pl/hermes-resort-2026-najnowszy-pokaz-marki/”>image</a>. Cutting CO₂ emissions by 15% through water recycling is an argument that resonates with an ever-growing group of clients. As early as 2020, the UN highlighted such practices as exemplary for the tourism industry.
ROI is one thing, but changing brand perception is a long-term investment. Customers are willing to pay more for services from socially responsible companies. Some return more often and recommend them to friends.
Implementations that reduce water consumption are no longer just a cost—they become an investment. Both financially and in terms of brand image. In a few years, it may turn out that this is no longer an option, but a market necessity.
Direction: waterless spa – what’s next and how can we accelerate the change
Actually, let’s not kid ourselves—a spa without a water footprint sounds like science fiction, but the data tells a different story. Maybe soon we’ll be wondering why we waited so long to go in this direction.
The UN forecast is clear: by 2030, up to 80% of Polish spas could achieve zero-waste water. This isn’t just an optimistic vision, but a realistic goal based on current technologies and trends. We’re already seeing the first facilities testing closed-loop water systems and next-generation filters.
Interestingly, there’s a parallel trend of “dry” wellness treatments emerging. Infrared saunas, stone massages, sound therapies—all of these require minimal amounts of water. And AI-optimized pool scheduling? That’s already in use in several locations. The system automatically decides when to fill the pool and when to close it.
If you’re thinking about specific steps, here’s a list of things you can do right now:
- Conduct a WUE audit (Water Use Efficiency indicator) – without it, you don’t know where you stand
- Install the mobile app for guests to book treatments – this optimizes resource usage
- Replace standard showers with those equipped with flow restrictors
- Implement a rainwater harvesting system, even if only for watering purposes
- Start offering more “dry” treatments – that’s often exactly what guests are looking for
Some spas are already testing systems that predict water demand based on reservations. It may sound complicated, but in practice, it’s simply smart management of the resources we have.
By 2028, we’ll likely see the first fully autonomous water systems in spas. By 2030, this could already be the norm rather than the exception. The only question is: do we want to be pioneers of this change, or wait until the competition leaves us behind?
Kazz
Premium Journalist editorial team
