If you’re lucky enough to live by the ocean, then you might be familiar with a sdy pool – an open-air public seawater swimming pool located on a surf beach that floods when the waves roll in. While these pools are popular for their beauty and convenience, they’re not without their problems. Many of them have been ruined by people throwing rubbish into the water, as well as the dreaded weed that can easily overtake and choke them. This weed can be hard to remove, especially if it’s embedded in the cement of the pool walls. Thankfully, there are some simple solutions to this problem.

The iconic Bondi Icebergs pool has been undergoing a long-debated upgrade. Its new owners have decided to make it more of a destination pool, which will require the installation of a cafe and a deck area. However, this move has been greeted with dismay by locals. One even went as far as to call the planned revamp “an insult to the sdy pool,” which is currently one of Sydney’s best swim spots.

This isn’t the first time that the pool has been in the spotlight. Its location, the views it offers back towards the city skyline and iconic landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, and its sheer size mean that it’s a magnet for swimmers. It’s also the venue of choice for a whole host of sporting events, including a few Commonwealth Games and two Olympics.

While nine in 10 Australians live within a 20-minute drive of an aquatic centre, access to these facilities isn’t evenly distributed across the country. This is particularly true in regional areas where there’s a stark contrast between the number of residents per facility. Those living in councils like Parramatta, for example, have more than 134,000 residents to cater for, while those in inner-city suburbs like Randwick and Mosman have fewer than 14,000 residents each.

Keeping your pool warm throughout the year can be costly, not only in terms of money but also for the environment. Luckily, there are ways to minimise your pool’s impact and save on energy bills. This can be achieved with a few small changes to the way you run your pool, such as using an insulated liner and a heat pump.

While it can be a difficult task to break away from the traditional concrete finish, there’s no reason why your backyard swimming pool has to be bland or boring. The right tiles can add the perfect finishing touch to your unique swimming retreat and transform it into an aesthetic masterpiece. With the help of experts from Europe Imports, Kirrily Ireland speaks to managing partner Carl Yench about how to choose the right tile for your pool.