Natural swimming pools

Natural swimming pools Water is cleaned biologically by the roots of aquatic plants and microorganisms Zoo plankton feed on single-celled algae No chemicals are used Widely used throughout Europe - both public and private pools

Advantages of natural pools No chemicals (no chlorine) Chlorine is a skin irritant, aggravates asthma Chlorine contains trihalomethanes which are suspected of being carcinogens when combine with organics compounds in the water Lower running costs Sweeter, natural water The water not damaging for the garden Increases aquatic habitat and biodiversity No toxic backwash thus no connection to sewer required

How they work

Two zones swimming zone and regeneration (plant) zone The regeneration zone is planted with aquatic plants The swimming zone has no plants

How they work (continued) Water is pumped from the swimming zone through a skimmer to remove floating leaves etc and then through the regeneration zone In the regen zone the water filtered and cleansed by the substrate material and the roots of the aquatic plants A mechanical filter may also be used The regen zone is usually shallow which helps keep the pool warm Silt is removed from the bottom of the swimming zone by vacuuming or bottom purge

How they are made Two designs:

Integrated (regeneration zone surrounds the swimming zone) Two pot (the regeneration zone is separate from the swimming pool)

Traditional concrete construction Natural pond design with rubber liner Swimming zone 1.2 2.2 m deep Regeneration zone about same surface area as the swimming zone

Whats available, what they cost Bionova appears to be only commercial system in Australia 2 pot design, Regen zone = 80% surface are of pool Illabunda pool 12m x 6m (72m2) regen zone (58m2) Concrete design about 30% more than conventional pool Natural pond design with liner is less expensive ~ $65,000 for Illabunda pool system

Maintenance Empty the surface leaf skimmer (as per conventional pool) Occasional vacuum (as per conventional pool) Trimming the aquatic plants in Autumn Annual backwash to garden/compost of mechanical filter (if installed) Occasional weeding of the plant section Pump maintenance (as per conventional pool) No chemicals or chemical costs

Decisions Natural pool? Traditional concrete style or pond style? Where to locate regeneration zone? Further Work Update knowledge of whats available locally Details and costs of available systems Integrate a design into the site plan