Will the vile ‘brown challenge’ pool pooing trend affect your holiday to Spain?

‘Code brown’ epidemic or storm in a swimming pool? (Picture: Getty Images) With temperatures reaching 40°C in parts of Spain this week, locals and holidaymakers alike will be relying on pools to cool down. But if you’re one of the millions of Brits planning a Spanish summer getaway, you may be worried about what awaits you on your dip, courtesy of a viral social media trend dubbed el reto marrón. According to Spanish media, facilities throughout the country have been placed on alert over the so-called ‘brown challenge’, which sees pranksters deliberately pooing in the water. After first gaining popularity in 2018, the craze has reared its ugly head every summer since, graduating from what was initially little more than a joke to a nationwide public health crisis. Some sources claim more than 300 pools across Spain were temporarily shut last year as a result, with more recent closures reported in Galicia, Valencia, Madrid, Andalusia, La Rioja, Cantabria, and Castilla-La Mancha. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Alcalá resident Jonathan Giraldo told digital news outlet elDiario that he and his family were evacuated from a public leisure centre in July, explaining: ‘The lifeguards started saying we had to leave, that someone had defecated in the pool.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Meanwhile, Zamora councillor for sports, Manuel Alonso, said the city’s pools had been forced to close for cleaning six times already this year following similar incidents, but admitted it had been ‘very difficult to identify the people responsible’. But whether it’s a legitimate epidemic promising to bring your Spanish holiday to a stinky end, or just a series of individual accidents sparking mass panic, is up for debate. Should UK holidaymakers be worried about the ‘brown challenge’? Beyond news publishers and commentators discussing the ‘brown challenge’, TikTok and Instagram searches don’t turn up any videos or photos of it actually taking place. And given participants are said to be dropping the kids off at the pool (quite literally) for online clout, posting at least some form of evidence seems like a pretty big part of the process. Like the ‘tide pod challenge’ and the ‘momo challenge’ of yesteryear, there’s likely an element of social media hysteria, with memes being lost in translation and isolated occurrences being turned into something more widespread. Unfortunately, pool pooing happens the world over (Picture: Getty Images) Even if el reto marrón is just a storm in a swimming bath though, it’s still proven disruptive in Spain. But will this impact your average holidaymaker? Probably not. Thus far, there have been no reported incidents outside of municipal pools and one private swimming club in Seville. So, unless you’re venturing out of your hotel to local lidos on your trip, you likely won’t encounter any rogue floaters. ‘Code brown’ incidents aren’t unique to Spain Unfortunately, no pool is truly poo-free. Back in 2016, a pool in Scotland had to repeatedly close down because people wouldn’t stop leaving floaters in the water, and the following year, a number of outlets claimed Brits had started a similar trend called ‘logging’ in European holiday resorts. It’s enough of a thing that most pools have protocols in place for when someone defecates in the drink, with staff calling out a ‘code brown’ over the tannoy. And solid waste isn’t the only concern. A study from the US-based Centers for Disease Control found the average swimmer offloads at least 0.14g of faecal matter into a swimming pool within the first 15 minutes of entering. This figure is likely to be even higher if the swimmer in question is a particularly negligent wiper. Still fancy that few lengths? Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Our Top Shopping Picks Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you Arrow MORE: Is it safe to travel to Greece? Latest wildfires near holiday resorts revealed Arrow MORE: The best holiday destinations to watch the ‘eclipse of the century’ in 2027 Arrow MORE: Junior lawyer sacked after posting video complaining about workplace culture The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.