Does Rennes Métropole go to war against private swimming pools? Thursday, June 26, 2025, the metropolitan elected officials gave a favorable opinion to the modification of the local intercommunal urban plan (PLUI). Among the new rules were the assertive will to densify the habitat in the 43 municipalities, or even to soften the rules governing the construction of parking lots in new constructions. Various measures following the same will: adapt the way in which we build on the territory to climate change.
Among the more than 600 pages of this document, a chapter concerns private swimming pools. Now, as 20 minutes indicate, the swimming pools that will be built in the metropolis will not be able to exceed 25 m3. Objective ? “Preserve water resources,” says Laurence Beserve, mayor of Betton and vice-president of Rennes Métropole at town planning.
“The context pushes us to act”
Since June 13, the Ille-et-Vilaine has been in drought vigilance, despite the historic floods experienced by the department in January. “The context pushes us to act,” says the elected Bretillian. Especially since the creation of a waterproofing swimming pool. On Rennes Métropole, the land is smaller, around 350 m2, and if you make a swimming pool, you urbanize the whole ground. »»
A measure that does not pass on the side of the Federation of Pool Professionals (FPP). According to the organization, “this measure is useless to save water,” says Joëlle Pulinx, general delegate. The entire French pool park represents 0.08 % of the annual water consumption. This measure is therefore more political than ecological. It is a symbol ”.
“I have had a swimming pool for 18 years and I have never emptied it”
According to her, swimming pools first suffer from a bad reputation. “The time when the pool owners emptied it every winter is over. Once full, the swimming pool is recycled for more than ten years. I have had a swimming pool for 18 years and I have never emptied it. Rather than restricting the volume, you have to insist on having an effective filtration system, an area in which the profession has made enormous progress ”.
Above all, the General Delegate of the FPP fears for the future of local businesses. “With this measure, they are in danger. A 25 m3 swimming pool corresponds to a 6 -meter -meter swimming pool and a depth of only one meter. It will become complicated for someone who wants to swim, as for a child who would like to have fun diving. »»
“She doesn’t scare us more than that”
Responsible for the Immolian Store, manufacturer of swimming pools in Cesson-Sévigné, east of Rennes, Caroline Pelz shows herself less pessimistic. “The inhabitants of Rennes Métropole have already built small pools because the land no longer allow them to make larger ones. The standard before this measurement was 7 meters by 3 meters and 1.50 meters deep. There, we will go to 6 meters, the difference is low. So we do not see the interest of this restriction very well, but it does not scare us more than that. »»
The modification of the PLUI also provides for the obligation for new buildings of swimming pools to acquire a coverage system to avoid the evaporation of water. “This is a very good thing because it prevents the evaporation of 95 % of the water,” rents Joëlle Pulinx this time.
