Brussels has too few public showers, according to a study in the journal Brussels Studies. Access to sanitation is a fundamental right, but in 2021, an estimated 100,000 residents, out of a population of 1.2 million, had no access to adequate and sufficient quality water, the journal says.
This includes people living in poorly equipped homes, people who have to ration their water consumption and those who have difficulty paying their bills.
There are some public facilities but they are too limited, according to Brussels Studies. Public showers can be found at around 15 organisations and at the swimming pool in the Marollen district. “Here and there, a swimming pool or sports hall offers informal access to existing showers,” the study says. “Winter shelters sometimes offer access to showers.”
In the early 2000s, there were showers in seven public places. Due in part to the pandemic, some of these have closed. These centres saw fewer users, but the authors of the study say this should not be confused with reduced demand.
Based on three examples, in Molenbeek, Laken and Schaarbeek, they say the decline in users was due to reduced supply, temporary closures and subsequent poor communication about reopening and availability.
Provision in Brussels is insufficient and fragmented, the authors say, with certain services reserved for specific groups. While this is “perfectly logical”, it limits accessibility.
To meet demand, the journal calls for local authorities to take immediate action without waiting for the region, which is still without a government. It says municipal swimming pools, sports halls and schools can be used for this purpose.