Natural Swimming Pools: Common Misconceptions & The Truth Behind Them

If you want a swimming pool but you aren't thrilled with the idea of swimming in chemicals, you aren't out of luck. Natural swimming pools give you an eco-friendly place to swim without costing you a fortune. Natural swimming pools are basically like a pond and a swimming pool all in one. Before you cringe at the thought of doing a cannonball into dirty pond water, here are some common misconceptions about natural swimming pools and the truth behind them.

They're more expensive

A natural swimming pool may have a higher initial cost. The exact cost depends on how luxurious you want your pool to be. You will need to buy plants that grow in ponds to naturally clean your pool. If you want to add a waterfall or any other structures that is another cost you need to add on. However, you never have to worry about adding chemicals, pool cleaning, or maintenance on other swimming pool equipment. The one-time cost of a natural swimming pool is significantly lower than a lifetime of maintaining a traditional swimming pool.

They're too much work

Natural swimming pools take care of themselves. You have no chlorine to monitor or pH levels to balance. The most work you will ever have to do to maintain your natural pool is skim some fallen leaves or branches off the surface. The ecosystem in your natural pool will be hard at work maintaining a proper balance while you sit back and enjoy.

The water is dirty

You don't need chlorine and other pool chemicals to keep your pool clean. When you have a natural swimming pool, the best thing you can do is build two sections that are separated by a dividing wall. One is a smaller section for water plants and the other is a larger section for swimming. The smaller section is called the regeneration area.

There are many types of plants that can be used in the regeneration area. These plants provide oxygen and antibacterial properties to naturally filter the water. These plants include:

• Water lilies
• Swamp hibiscus
• Cattails
• Sparganium
• Pond Sedge

The pool will become infested

When you swim in a pond, you notice that there are tadpoles, dragonflies, and other water bugs all around you. This is because the water plants are scattered throughout the entire pond. The water plants are their natural habitat, not just the water itself. These critters will all stay within your regeneration area to be inside of your plants. You won't have to worry about them being in the swimming area itself. The dragonflies and frogs that live in your regeneration area will also be a huge help because they eat mosquitoes and mosquito larvae. Your backyard will be mosquito free not long after your natural pool is up and running.

You'll deal with muddy water

While you can dig your own pool and have a muddy bottom, that isn't generally how it works. The swimming area of your pool can be built with concrete just like a traditional swimming pool. Synthetic liners and bentonite clay work well too. As for the regeneration area of your pool, your best option is to use sterilized soil and add a few inches of prewashed gravel to the top.

You'll have stagnant water

This part is true if your pool isn't set up properly. Your water has to constantly move for the plant area to cleanse the water and keep it from becoming stagnant. You have a couple options that work very well. One option is to have a pump. Your water can flow from the regeneration area to the swimming area and back through PVC pipes. Of course, if you can swing the cost then stay the natural route and have a waterfall put in. Waterfalls looks beautiful, sound relaxing, and keep the water moving constantly.

With a natural swimming pool you don't have to pay for chemicals, swim in chemicals, or pay to drain and fill your pool when the seasons change. Add some pond plants and let the ecosystem do all of the work.

For more information on your pool options, check out a site like http://www.anchorpools.com.