Thursday, May 3, 2012

Natural Pools or Natural Swimming Ponds


Let nature clean the water...


natural pool
Chemical-free water garden and swimming pool. The plant portion, or regeneration zone, is separated from the swimming area by the wall seen a few inches below the water’s surface. www.naturalswimmingpools.com



natural pool
The pools have skimmers and pumps that circulate the water through the regeneration zone and back into the swimming area. The aquatic plants filter out contaminants and use nutrients from the water as food which helps prevent algae. Then rocks, such as granite river rock or haydite, to which friendly bacteria attach, act as biological filters. More questions answered here: www.ecodesignscape.co.uk & www.gartenart.co.uk



natural pool
There are many options as to design. Beneficial bacteria (micro-organisms and microbes) colonize the rock and help cleanse the water. www.clear-water-revival.com



natural pools
A gradual slope contains the plants, gravel and loamy sand, a wall keeps them separate from the swimming area.



natural pool
Vacuum but twice a year and tend to the plants as needed. The plants will need to be cut back in the fall so they do not die in the pool. www.naturalswimmingpools.com



natural pool
The regeneration zone can be along the perimeter of a natural pool or a pond unto itself but connected to the swimming area. www.gartenart.co.uk



natural pool
For a true natural pool with no help from ultraviolet light or other such technology, the requirement is half swimming area, half regeneration area. www.biotop-natural-pool.com



natural pool
Plants steel the nutrients away from algae. www.gartenart.co.uk




natural pool
Half regeneration area, half swimming pool. www.living-pool.eu



natural pool
Natural predators such as water striders and dragonflies will come to live in the enrichment area and feast on mosquitoes. If you chose to have a skimmer installed this will keep mosquitoes in check as well. Woodhouse demo pool -www.naturalswimmingpools.com



natural pool
Use your pool as an ice rink in winter, as there is no need for a cover. www.gartenart.co.uk



natural pool
A first year pool will need at least 60 days to self-adjust, but installing an ultraviolet sterilizer in the pump area will have you swimming almost immediately. www.clear-water-revival.com



natural pool
Note the plant pond to the right. In France: www.bioteich.fr



natural pool
The pools are most popular in Austria, where a company called Biotop has been designing them for residential and public use since 1986. Pic: www.homeexteriorinterior.com



natural pool
Two-tiered, the waterfall helps oxygenate the pool. naturalpoolsnz.com



natural pool
A hybrid natural pool usually has two circulation pumps. One where water is circulated through the plant and rock filters before being discharged back to the bottom of the pond. The second surface circulation system pulls water through one or two skimmers filtering out floating debris. Water drawn through the skimmers passes through some type of filter system, such as a UV filter and/or a biofilter—essentially a box filled with bacteria-laden bio-media—before returning to the pool. A waterfall helps with oxygenation. South Africa: www.naturalswimmingpools.co.za



natural pool
Love the deck amongst the water plants. An original Biotop pool - www.biotop-natural-pool.com



natural pool
Access through an enrichment area. www.clear-water-revival.com



natural pool
Love the diving boards. www.naturalswimmingpools.com



natural pool
Natural pool in the UK  www.clear-water-revival.com



natural pool
Convert a pond into a swimming pond. Mother Earth News says there are a few options as to liners - bentonite clay to seal the soil or a synthetic liner. If you choose a synthetic, they recommend ethylene propylene diene monomer rather than PVC.www.motherearthnews.com www.gartenart.co.uk



natural pool
Ice skate in the winter.  www.gartenart.co.uk



natural pool
No chemicals so the water is soft. www.gartenart.co.uk




natural pools
Close up of a Do it Yourself kit from www.clear-water-revival.com




natural pool
Northeast U.S.  www.waterhousepools.com



natural pool
New free-form construction. www.clear-water-revival.com



natural pool
Conventional pools can also be converted to natural pools; above is an internal conversion. www.gartenart.co.uk




natural swimming pool
Convert your existing pool into a natural pool. www.bionovanaturalpools.com See pics of a conversion process here: www.clear-water-revival.com



natural swimming pool
Conversion with added beach. www.bionovanaturalpools.com



Plants instead of chemicals -- have you ever thought about how many pounds of chemicals go into a typical swimming pool?

Plants: A range of aquatic plants are used -- submerged (oxygenators), floating, shallow marginals, deep marginals, bog/marsh and waterside species. Whenever possible, it is best to use indigenous plants. Some examples of typical water plants: cattails, bulrushes, sedges, duckweed and water lilies.

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