Rather than a chlorine-filled pool that strips your skin and can irritate your eyes, a swimming pond or natural pool will blend into the landscape with beautiful water lilies, floating plants and a lush oasis all your own. It’s a place where you can go for a swim with your family and friends without worrying about the potential risk of dangerous bacteria like the one that killed Aimee.
Swimming ponds and natural pools are also good for the environment as they don’t damage the surrounding soil or ecosystem the way traditional pools do, because they use natural, plant-based filtration systems and are free of harmful chemicals. As a result, they create an eco-system of their own that enriches the neighbourhood’s ecology.
A swimming pond is a great way to enjoy nature and get exercise right on your own doorstep. It’s also a great way to relax, whether you’re going for an early morning swim before work or simply sitting and watching the wildlife.
With a little bit of planning, a natural swimming pond can be a long-term investment that will bring a lot of benefits to your property and lifestyle. But it’s not for the faint hearted, as there are many technical details to take into account, and you should always employ a specialist who has the necessary experience to ensure that your swimming pond is built correctly, and with a suitable biological filtration system.
Natural pools and swimming ponds use an eco-system to keep the water healthy, with plants, zooplankton and micro-organisms all playing their part in keeping the pond clear of algae, pathogens and unwanted organic matter. They are usually divided into two sections: a bathing area and a regeneration zone where flora is grown that helps to filter the water. This is a very different process to that used in swimming pools which use a mechanical or chemical filtration system, although some companies such as Austrian company Biotop and UK partner Ellicar offer ‘living’ ponds which use a more conventional sand-based approach.
As a result, these types of ponds tend to have less of a negative impact on the surrounding environment than traditional pools, and they can be very beneficial for nearby streams and rivers too. A swimming pond can even provide a new source of drinking water for wild animals such as deer, badgers and foxes, which are often unable to access other bodies of freshwater in their local areas.
A swimming pond is a fantastic alternative to the cabin in the woods, which can take hours and sometimes days to reach; or the boat and RV that demand a large commitment of time and money just to sit outside and enjoy. A well-designed, built and maintained swimming pond can be a wonderful place to spend time with your family, whether it’s for an early swim before work or a leisurely afternoon in the sunshine. And it’s a great place for children to learn about the flora and fauna that make up our eco-systems.