Not the sweaty, over-the-top action flick starring Kevin Costner as a rugged kind of Mad Max on water in search of dry land after the polar ice caps have melted.

But rather, my local swimming pool, Leith Waterworld, which had its own quieter apocalypse when it closed its doors for the last time last weekend, as a result of a financial balancing act by Edinburgh Council, which part-paid for the Commonwealth Pool refurbishment with this closure.

Even as I write this I'm still wearing the pink wristband from my last visit. When my son asks why, we go through a sad old conversation about how we can't go back there again and he asks if we can go to another swimming pool, and I say, yes, though I struggle to think of one which will cause him such delight.

On Saturday, the pool was at capacity, with queues trailing outside the door, customers fighting for changing cubicles, and ourselves, choosing, as a family, to get changed in a corner by the lockers. Leith Waterworld has never been cheap to run, requiring, as it does, a plethora of life guards to cover the difficult sight lines, caused by the elaborate design of its water-runs, flumes, and secluded pool areas. That has long been the case put forward by Edinburgh Leisure. But without doubt it has given immeasurable pleasure to families from far and wide, and been an important force, in our area, in fostering the idea of active family time. Almost every parent I know is familiar with the chorus of pester power that builds up to any visit. An energetic campaign called Splashback developed in the last few months to try to save it. The Leith literati – from Irvine Welsh to David Greig – gave support. But this week, the doors are bolted, and soon the wrecking crew are set to come in and gut the building in preparation for sale. Where is Kevin Costner when you need him?