ntsw:natural_swimming_pools

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ntsw:natural_swimming_pools [2025/12/05 10:38] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1ntsw:natural_swimming_pools [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Natural swimming pools+This topic is part of [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]], [[gt:water|Water & sewage]] and [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. 
 +====== Natural swimming pools ======
  
  
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-## What are natural swimming pools?+===== What are natural swimming pools? =====
  
 They’re constructed pools / ponds designed for swimming, but with room for nature. They typically have a swimming area and a ‘regeneration zone’, where the water is cleansed biologically (by plants and micro-organisms) and with physical filters, but without chlorine, ozone, copper compounds, UV radiation or ultrasonic devices, which are undesirable because they reduce the biological activity that a natural pool is intended to encourage. Microbes on plant roots and stones remove nutrients and contaminants, and free-swimming micro-organisms eat algae. They’re constructed pools / ponds designed for swimming, but with room for nature. They typically have a swimming area and a ‘regeneration zone’, where the water is cleansed biologically (by plants and micro-organisms) and with physical filters, but without chlorine, ozone, copper compounds, UV radiation or ultrasonic devices, which are undesirable because they reduce the biological activity that a natural pool is intended to encourage. Microbes on plant roots and stones remove nutrients and contaminants, and free-swimming micro-organisms eat algae.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Regeneration area with water and bog plants and plants with floating leaves, with a partition wall to separate it from the swimming area, but to allow the water to flow between the two areas.+_Regeneration area with water and bog plants and plants with floating leaves, with a partition wall to separate it from the swimming area, but to allow the water to flow between the two areas._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### History+==== History ====
  
 The modern natural swimming pool ‘movement’ is considered to have started with Gottfried Kern in Austria in 1954. He partitioned free-standing water from a ‘regeneration zone’, where plants and animals could live undisturbed, but could also venture out into the swimming area. The 60s saw a wave of chemically-treated swimming pools spread across Europe from the US, but in tandem with the wildlife gardening movement in the 70s, more and more people in central Europe were looking at installing natural pools for bathing. Installation companies were formed in the late 80s, and a new sector developed in the 90s. The modern natural swimming pool ‘movement’ is considered to have started with Gottfried Kern in Austria in 1954. He partitioned free-standing water from a ‘regeneration zone’, where plants and animals could live undisturbed, but could also venture out into the swimming area. The 60s saw a wave of chemically-treated swimming pools spread across Europe from the US, but in tandem with the wildlife gardening movement in the 70s, more and more people in central Europe were looking at installing natural pools for bathing. Installation companies were formed in the late 80s, and a new sector developed in the 90s.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Two very different methods of digging the hole for your pool.+_Two very different methods of digging the hole for your pool._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 Legal and technical barriers had to be overcome to enable the step from private to public natural pools. The first public natural swimming pool, created by [Biotop](https://gb.bio.top/), was opened in Klosterneuburg, Austria, in 1991. Natural swimming pools arrived in the UK in 2001 – the first was at a private residence in Gloucestershire by Michael Littlewood. In 2015, the UK's first public natural swimming pool was opened at King’s Cross in London. Legal and technical barriers had to be overcome to enable the step from private to public natural pools. The first public natural swimming pool, created by [Biotop](https://gb.bio.top/), was opened in Klosterneuburg, Austria, in 1991. Natural swimming pools arrived in the UK in 2001 – the first was at a private residence in Gloucestershire by Michael Littlewood. In 2015, the UK's first public natural swimming pool was opened at King’s Cross in London.
-### Types+==== Types ====
  
 Pools can have different levels of wildlife-friendliness. Some pools, although unchlorinated, have vertical walls, with no escape route for amphibians, and intensively-filtered water that reduces plant growth. Pools can have different levels of wildlife-friendliness. Some pools, although unchlorinated, have vertical walls, with no escape route for amphibians, and intensively-filtered water that reduces plant growth.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Bird's-eye view of a natural pool.+_Bird's-eye view of a natural pool._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of natural swimming pools?+===== What are the benefits of natural swimming pools? =====
  
-### For people:+==== For people: ====
  
 To guarantee pathogen-free water, traditional swimming pools are usually treated with chlorine, chlorine dioxide, mineral salts, organic biocides or ozone. Chlorine increases the risk of asthma and allergies, especially for kids. It is also a potential carcinogen. Regular exposure to chlorine may cause reproductive disorders and birth defects as well as skin ageing. A natural swimming pool does not require added chemicals. Water purification is achieved via physical and biological processes. To guarantee pathogen-free water, traditional swimming pools are usually treated with chlorine, chlorine dioxide, mineral salts, organic biocides or ozone. Chlorine increases the risk of asthma and allergies, especially for kids. It is also a potential carcinogen. Regular exposure to chlorine may cause reproductive disorders and birth defects as well as skin ageing. A natural swimming pool does not require added chemicals. Water purification is achieved via physical and biological processes.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Nothing better than plunging into a freshwater pool on a hot summer day - for humans and non-humans.+_Nothing better than plunging into a freshwater pool on a hot summer day - for humans and non-humans._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 Of course, very few natural pools will be large enough for lane swimming, but they’re fine for swimming and splashing about in the fresh air, and they’re great as plunge-pools after a sauna. Of course, very few natural pools will be large enough for lane swimming, but they’re fine for swimming and splashing about in the fresh air, and they’re great as plunge-pools after a sauna.
  
-### For nature:+==== For nature: ====
  
 A natural swimming pool will provide habitat for wildlife. Not everyone will be happy to share their swimming space with frogs or water beetles, but they’ll try to get out of your way, and if you’re a nature lover, you’ll take to it easily. The environment will benefit from the fact that chlorine isn’t used, and it will save water too, as, unlike conventional swimming pools, total water changes are not required. A natural swimming pool will provide habitat for wildlife. Not everyone will be happy to share their swimming space with frogs or water beetles, but they’ll try to get out of your way, and if you’re a nature lover, you’ll take to it easily. The environment will benefit from the fact that chlorine isn’t used, and it will save water too, as, unlike conventional swimming pools, total water changes are not required.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Unrolling the pool EPDM liner.+_Unrolling the pool EPDM liner._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Type 1 and 2 pools can easily be built DIY – you don’t need much more knowledge than for a normal garden pond. You could also have a go at type 3, but you’ll probably need a professional for type 4. You’ll need to consult a good book for more detailed information on construction, stocking with plants and maintenance. Type 1 and 2 pools can easily be built DIY – you don’t need much more knowledge than for a normal garden pond. You could also have a go at type 3, but you’ll probably need a professional for type 4. You’ll need to consult a good book for more detailed information on construction, stocking with plants and maintenance.
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 <caption> <caption>
-This is a conversion from a conventional pool - chlorine out, plants in.+_This is a conversion from a conventional pool - chlorine out, plants in._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Construction+==== Construction ====
  
 Here are the (basic) construction stages: Here are the (basic) construction stages:
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Welcoming wildlife+==== Welcoming wildlife ====
  
 Stocking with animals is not recommended. Fish will raise the phosphorus levels and increase the likelihood of algae. Wildlife, however, will come on its own. A few days after filling the pool, you might get an algal bloom that could make the water murky; but soon after that, the first microscopic animals such as water fleas and daphnia will appear to eat the algae and the pool will clear again. Their predators – water-insects and arthropods - will inevitably follow: pond skaters walk over the water surface thanks to their hydrophobic feet; great diving beetles fly in, as do whirligig beetles with their fantastic dances on the surface of the water. Later, dragonflies will lay their eggs, and their larvae will go hunting with their extending mandibles. Later still, frogs, toads and newts will find their way overland to lay their eggs. All very exciting if you enjoy observing nature. Stocking with animals is not recommended. Fish will raise the phosphorus levels and increase the likelihood of algae. Wildlife, however, will come on its own. A few days after filling the pool, you might get an algal bloom that could make the water murky; but soon after that, the first microscopic animals such as water fleas and daphnia will appear to eat the algae and the pool will clear again. Their predators – water-insects and arthropods - will inevitably follow: pond skaters walk over the water surface thanks to their hydrophobic feet; great diving beetles fly in, as do whirligig beetles with their fantastic dances on the surface of the water. Later, dragonflies will lay their eggs, and their larvae will go hunting with their extending mandibles. Later still, frogs, toads and newts will find their way overland to lay their eggs. All very exciting if you enjoy observing nature.
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 <caption> <caption>
-After you've built your pond, you may start to get a build-up of algae, but soon daphnia (above) will arrive to eat it; and after that, other pond life will turn up to eat the daphnia, and an ecosystem will develop.+_After you've built your pond, you may start to get a build-up of algae, but soon daphnia (above) will arrive to eat it; and after that, other pond life will turn up to eat the daphnia, and an ecosystem will develop._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Constructing a gravel bed for a 'biofilm' filter (type 4 pool, see above).+_Constructing a gravel bed for a 'biofilm' filter (type 4 pool, see above)._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Maintenance+==== Maintenance ====
  
 Maintenance is necessary for all types of pool. The accumulated mud has to be removed with a suction pond cleaner at least once per year. They’re quite cheap, and can transfer the pond mud to the garden, where it will be a good fertiliser. Maintenance is necessary for all types of pool. The accumulated mud has to be removed with a suction pond cleaner at least once per year. They’re quite cheap, and can transfer the pond mud to the garden, where it will be a good fertiliser.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Yellow flag irises love wet conditions and will add beauty to your pool, as well as helping to keep the water clean.+_Yellow flag irises love wet conditions and will add beauty to your pool, as well as helping to keep the water clean._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum =====
  
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/bushcraft).
  
 +It is also in the sections
 +  * [[gt:water|Water & sewage]] (Forum: [Water & sewage](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/water))
 +  * [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]] (Forum: [Wellbeing, home & relationships](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/wellbeing))
  
-## Specialist(s)+===== Further resources ===== 
 + 
 +- [British Association of Natural Swimming Pools](http://bansp.org/) 
 +- [Top tips for building a natural swimming pool](https://www.clear-water-revival.com/diy-natural-swimming-pools-top-10-tips/) 
 +- [Mother Earth News](https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/natural-swimming-pool-zmaz02aszgoe/) - building a natural swimming pool 
 +- [Organic Pools DIY Manual](https://www.organicpools.co.uk/DIY%20Natural%20Pool%20Manual%20free%20version.pdf)  
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[pond:Ponds]] 
 +- [[wisw:Wild swimming]] 
 +- [[wiga:Wildlife gardening]] 
 +- [[ntaw:Nature awareness]] 
 +- [[reed:Reed beds]] 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  
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