Public pools occupy a special place in the Australian consciousness. They’re the site of swimming carnivals, splashy fun on long, hot school holidays, a cool spot to catch up with friends or the place for slow, meditative laps.

They’re also places of protest and a flashpoint for social inequality – not everyone has easy access to a local public pool.

Over the coming weeks, we will be publishing a series of stories on why public pools matter - to the economy, to social well-being and to our shared history. But we’re also keen to hear from our readers.

Why are public pools important to you? Share your thoughts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #myfavouritepool and we’ll keep a running record of your contributions here.

Don’t forget to sign up to our daily newsletter so you don’t miss a drop of precious pools coverage, and we’ve collected our pools articles in a list at the end of this story.