Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) has said that bills to heat swimming pools have gone up by "150 percent" with inflation.
Derek Jones is the Contracts Manager for sites managed by GLL across the South Lakeland region. These are Kendal and Ulverston leisure centre. GLL are a not-for-profit organisation that works in partnership with the council to provide public swimming pools.
He said: "We are looking at our options with South Lakeland District Council.
"Swimming pools are massively important. We look after people who are on lower incomes and can't afford to go to private pools. It is very important that public leisure facilities stay open.
"It is another thing. We have seen a really good bounce back from the pandemic but this is another situation that is almost as serious as the pandemic from a financial perspective."
The Local Government Association said that 72 percent of primary schools relied on public swimming pools.
When asked how swimming pools in the South lakes region could be supported, Mr. Jones said:
"The local government are helping massively but the national government could look at how to provide income or lower VAT. We need some financial support."
This falls in line with the report given by UKActive, the association of gyms and leisure centres.
Huw Edwards, the chief executive officer for UKActive also gave the figure of a 150 percent increase in costs over the period 2021-2.
Mr. Edwards also said that Government support was required for leisure centres across Britain:
"It is not for local authorities themselves to come up with the solution" he told the BBC.
The Government said that they provided £1bn to help leisure sectors through the pandemic.
Community swimming pools that are not managed by the council are also at risk from the cost of living crisis.
Shap and Ingleton swimming pools are open air swimming pools that are run by volunteers.
Shap swimming pool has installed a new heating system in preperation for the summer season, and said that they are expecting high bills for when they open.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here