The Natural Pool (no chem/plant biofiltered swimming pools)

Dover

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Sun Aug-17-08 11:41 PM
Original message

The Natural Pool (no chem/plant biofiltered swimming pools)

Edited on Mon Aug-18-08 12:37 AM by Dover

This concept has caught on in Europe but hasn't yet taken
hold here in the States. It's not maintenance free,
but more like maintaining a garden....a water garden.

___________________________

http://www.biotop-natural-pool.com/concept.html

Some related U.S. articles

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/05/garden/05pools.html
https://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/2002-08-01/Natural-Swimming-Pools.aspx
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/12/natural-swimming-pools-catch-on/
http://totalhabitat.com/P&P.html

Natural Swimming Pools/Ponds - THE TOTAL GUIDE (eBook only)
This eBook is packed with detailed information, formulas and examples. It contains over 80 illustrations and photographs. You can build a natural swimming pool!ISBN 0-9752731-0-8
http://www.totalhabitat.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3
Look inside:
http://totalhabitat.com/Natural%20Swimming%20Sample.pdf

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DCKit

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Sun Aug-17-08 11:44 PM
Response to Original message

1. That's the Clampett's C-ment pond!!

Where's the still?

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kestrel91316

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Sun Aug-17-08 11:46 PM
Response to Original message

2. I get a funny feeling this is NEVER gonna catch on in germ-phobic America.

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XemaSab

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:03 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. Not to mention

West Nile-phobic America. :scared:

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ngant17

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:32 AM
Response to Reply #3

9. any chance cotton-mouth water mocassins would like this environment?

Their fangs will typically inject their entire charge of venom in one bite, and they are not shy about biting underwater, either. They have also been know to breed in large colonies underwater.

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Dover

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:45 AM
Response to Reply #9

10. I can't answer that, but here's a good FAQ page.

I have looked at these pools for awhile, and seen some designs where the biofilter is completely separate from the swimming area so that it looks like a natural pond in one area and a clear swimming pool in another connected by pipes to bring the filtered water to the swimming area, and back to the biofiltered pond. So I don't think the pool area would attract critters any more than a traditional pool might. But there are no guarantees if that's what you're looking for.

Here's the FAQ:

http://www.biotop-natural-pool.com/faq.html

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XemaSab

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:57 AM
Response to Reply #9

11. I live in California, and by sheer coincidence

I had never seen a snake out swimming before yesterday. :shrug:

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Dover

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:11 AM
Response to Reply #2

5. People swim in ponds, lakes and creeks, and this is MUCH cleaner than that.

Edited on Mon Aug-18-08 12:28 AM by Dover

However, I agree that Americans DO love their chlorinated pools.

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Ian David

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Mon Aug-18-08 02:27 AM
Response to Reply #5

13. I use an old dental x-ray to irradiate all the water in my pool.

I just have to clean the occasional two-headed frog out of the skimmer basket.

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kestrel91316

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:33 PM
Response to Reply #5

15. Oh, I know. You won't get any argument from me. I have swum in my

share of lakes and swimming holes. This is NOT like those places.

But people who don't understand biological processes and have an urban mentality wouldn't be caught dead in one of these. They want "sterile", even though that's unattainable.

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madeline_con

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:08 AM
Response to Original message

4. That is awesome.

I've always wondered if the two could be combined. I'm all over that!

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Dover

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:16 AM
Response to Reply #4

6. What's this? A true naturalist in an environmental forum? Who'd a thunk.

YAY!!!!

You would have to be 'into' it, to 'dive' into this new way of thinking.
I'd really like to talk to some of the folks in the US who have done just that,
to get their impressions.

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madeline_con

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:25 AM
Response to Reply #6

7. I love it. I'd have one in a heartbeat.

They're just beautiful. Why have all the chemiclas if they aren't necessary? You can also share your watery habitat with frogs and turtles. Very cool. Fish could live in, too?

Do you know if it gets cloudy from people being in and stirring up debris? I guess that would depend on the size...

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Dover

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Mon Aug-18-08 12:31 AM
Response to Reply #7

8. Well actually the swimming area is separate from the biofiltered area

Edited on Mon Aug-18-08 12:33 AM by Dover

and there's no debris in the swimming area. Any critters are generally confined to the
biofilter areas, as I understand it. The water is constantly being pumped and cleaned through
that biofilter, so it's clear water. And the shallowness of the filter/plant area naturally
acts as a passive solar collector and heats the water.

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madeline_con

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Mon Aug-18-08 05:25 PM
Response to Reply #8

16. Hubby has an issue.

We're in Florida. When fresh water gets to a certain temp, the brain destroying ameobas grow in it. Hence, the need for chlorine. Would this potentially still be a problem? IOW, is this not the type of pool for Florida?

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XemaSab

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Mon Aug-18-08 07:28 PM
Response to Reply #6

17. I'm a true naturalist!

I've been advocating digging a 70-foot OXBOW in the back yard for YEARS!

But because I'm a naturalist, I'd be scared of mozzies. :scared:

I mean, hell, my maceration bucket alone is enough to give the director of the Shasta County Vector Control Department nightmares...

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Ian David

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Mon Aug-18-08 02:25 AM
Response to Original message

12. I wouldn't swim in it. It isn't even an unnatural shade of blue; n/t

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madokie

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Mon Aug-18-08 08:51 AM
Response to Original message

14. I love the idea

but we have too many water moccasins around here to do that. First time my better half came out to the pool and seen a snake swimming around in there that would be it for a swimming pool at our place.

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