whetu Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 I've seen several references recently to "natural Swimming Pools". Basically, people using the same principles as we would use in our fish tanks or ponds, to create swimming pools for people. They use plants etc to filter the water, and don't use chemicals such as chlorine. Here is a website with some examples: http://www.gartenart.co.uk/ Does anyone here have a natural swimming pool, or have any experience with them? Are there many being installed in New Zealand, or is it still seen as one of those slightly 'alternative lifestyle' things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 I could see a raft of diseases that could be transmitted by that situation. The natural filtration will remove nutrient but may not reduce bacteria or other nasties. I have been involved with a number of installations of septic tanks using "natural" treatment and they can work but need to be well designed, installed and maintained (which they seldom are). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-town... Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 those pool look awesome on that site wouldnt they go green quite quickly? also heps of mosquito larvae in there etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishandchips Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Seems to me that they just reinvented the pond. I swim in my parents pond all the time great on a hot day, you get over seeing all the fish swim passed and all the other bugs and stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 dat what i thought fishnchips, it a glorified pond... why not swim in the sea? the grand mother of all natural pools? or a river swimming hole? with a natural constant flush system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted February 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Alan, according to the reading I've been doing, these pools have been popular in Europe for about 20 years and there are even some public pools using the system. Surely if they used similar good water-keeping practises like we do in our tanks they should be ok? Regarding swimming in the sea or river systems, I would actually prefer to swim in a waterway that I had a bit more control over. Around Auckland there are a lot of beaches that are closed after rain because of all the raw sewerage that gets washed into the water. And most lowland rivers (something like 90% of them) have elevated levels of faecal badness due to farming runoff. As for mozzies etc, it would only be the same as having a pond. If you have fish and/or frogs in there they will help eat up the bugs. Yes, I think they are just reinventing the pond. They just made some parts of it a bit deeper for swimming. I think I would like to have one of these reinvented ponds one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 It is an enclosed system, so what nasties get in there are trapped. There can be a good reduction of bacteria and other nasties as well as nutrient and heavy metals by passing efluent through the root zone of some plants and this is the principle with treating sewage effluent this way. I am not sure how much other than nutrient would be removed in this situation. Excluding areas poluted by sewage, the sea and moving fresh water are continually flushed and would have a far greater reduction in any nasties I would have thought. There have been some pretty nastie disease contracted from swimming in pools and spa pools where the water treatment has not been adequate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedazzled Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 They look awesome Don't know about the bugs and stuff but they certainly look enticing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 The spa pool in Christchurch where people ended up in hospital with rotting armpits and groins looked pretty inviting too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 those are the same as our water supply ponds on the farm with some edgings put in. our farm ones are possibly better as most of them have springs under them filling them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedazzled Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 The spa pool in Christchurch where people ended up in hospital with rotting armpits and groins looked pretty inviting too. BLERK! those are the same as our water supply ponds on the farm with some edgings put in. our farm ones are possibly better as most of them have springs under them filling them. *packs togs, towel and rugrat* Where is this farm? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 *packs togs, towel and rugrat* Where is this farm? :lol: not far, kokopu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedazzled Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 lol no, that is not far Hardly need a swimming pool today though, just need to step out the back door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarimochi Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 eeew that looks soooo skanky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 havnt heard of these pools before but have heard of people keeping salt water ponds, just useing salt instead of chlorine was my understanding of the system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 I've never really got the saltwater ponds. I mean...There are more greeblies living in saltwater than freshwater around the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 There is a system of producing chlorine by electrolysis to chlorinate the pool. You add salt to the pool and an electric current produces chlorine gas from the salt. It is the chlorine that does the job rather than the salt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedazzled Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 I've never really got the saltwater ponds. I mean...There are more greeblies living in saltwater than freshwater around the world. You are really concerned about bugs aren't you Ira? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northland chic Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 We had a salt water pool when I was a teen, just like alan said. I remember seeing the thing in the tube that produced the electric current. It was awesome I just added one or two huge bags of salt from the farm suppliers at the begginning of every swimming year and that was it. Just routine maintenance after that, it was hassle free a vacuum every now and then. I also like the look of the natural pool but yea it does look alot like a pond and I don't think I'd be able to resist filling it with fish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 havnt heard of these pools before but have heard of people keeping salt water ponds, just useing salt instead of chlorine was my understanding of the system a friend has asaltwater pool, i have no idea how it works in the way of filtration. he occassionaly brings home a snapper to clean the algae off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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