Providing showers for freedom campers and fruit pickers is a ''growth industry'' for the Cromwell Swim Centre.
In January, February and March this year, 2250 people paid for a shower at the pool, compared with 650 people for the same time last year.
Cr Nigel McKinlay highlighted the matter at last week's Central Otago District Council meeting and said he assumed it was campers who were boosting the demand.
Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper said providing showers was obviously a growth industry and Cr Barrie Wills said it was a good source of income.
''This must represent a good business opportunity for someone to set up a shower on the [Lake Dunstan] beachfront over summer,'' Cr Stu Duncan said. Adults pay $2 for a shower only at the Cromwell pool or at the Molyneux Aquatic Centre in Alexandra, or $4.50 for a swim.
Those prices are set to go up from July 1, to $4 for a shower and $6 for a swim.
The council's quarterly report said the number of swimmers at the Cromwell pool had dropped in January this year, compared with January 2014, as people were probably using the lake while the weather was good.
However, the number of swimmers in February and March was higher than for the corresponding months last year and over the quarter, numbers were up by 5%.
The number through the Alexandra pool in January, February and March was down by 3% compared with last year.
After the meeting, council parks and recreation manager Mathew Begg said the statistics for the Alexandra pool would also be broken down in future so the number of people showering there was known.
The breakdown was useful to plan tasks and staffing at the pools.
''For example, if there's extra people showering there, we need to factor in extra cleaning of those facilities.''
He thought freedom campers had probably boosted the numbers showering at the pool.
''I'm sure they're some of the key players, along with fruit pickers.''
The use of the showers could have a positive spin-off for the facility, he said.
''A number who plan to go in for a shower only will decide to pay more and have a swim, as well.''
