Pools
Cost. The construction cost per square foot is the same for natural swimming pools and traditional pools. However, a natural swimming pool is typically twice the size of a traditional pool because of the regeneration zone. A natural swimming pool requires different maintenance compared to chlorinated pools, but the overall cost is about the same. Larry Carnes, owner of Reflections Water Gardens, says, “Natural swimming pools are completely chemical free, which means that hundreds if not thousands of dollars normally required for balancing water chemistry and countless man-hours are saved each swimming season; however, this time and money is made up for in the care of the water garden.”
What plants do you use? The plants will vary depending on climate and location. The regeneration zone relies on the surface area of the plants’ roots and the gravel substrate to create a home for beneficial bacteria. Three types of aquatic plants are used: • Floating: Including flowering species of the lotus and water lily • Emergent: Occupying the water margins of the pool; they include sedges, rushes and grasses • Submerged: Are rooted into the substrate and help oxygenate the water There are common natives for each type. At the edge of the regeneration zone, you have the option to continue a natural look with a wetland gradient of native plants. Species that thrive in moist, periodically inundated soil will perform best around the edges of a natural pool.
How much space do you need? Natural swimming pools can be small enough for an urban yard or extra large for a rural property. The relationship between the regeneration and swimming zones can also vary depending on the space available. For instance, a rectilinear pool can be designed as the swimming area, with the water circulation apparatus running underground to the regeneration zone. In the most common setup, the regeneration zone is directly adjacent to the swimming zone, as shown here, with edges that allow for a specific volume of water to flow over the edge. Generally, the size of the zones should be equal for adequate water cleansing.
How the zones interact. The regeneration zone’s size and depth are related to the volume of water to be cleaned. The planted zone is shallower than the swimming area. Clean water slowly flows from the planted zone into the swimming zone. A specialized water skimmer removes large debris that falls on the water’s surface in the swim zone. The skimmer is fitted with a fine sieve that removes small debris before the water is circulated into a biological filter. Additional equipment, like UV light filters and filters that use sand to remove phosphorous, is helpful in maintaining the balance in a natural pool system.
How they work. Natural swimming pools rely on a constructed wetland of plants and gravel to filter the water in an area called the regeneration zone. This zone is like a water garden; a variety of plants selected by a natural pool specialist or a landscape architect create an ecosystem that cleans the pool water.
Ultimately it’s the shape of the pool basin, materials and expression of the edges that will determine the style of your natural pool. I recommend that you hire a talented landscape architect who can incorporate a natural pool into an overall backyard-oasis design plan. A local water garden and natural pool company will be your source for ongoing maintenance supplies throughout the year.
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