Natural Swimming Pool Photo Gallery

[CarlD]

Somehow, my idea of a natural pool involves saltwater, waves, tides and sand, of the beach, rather than filter variety!

[Anonymous [GDPR] European in the UK]

Excellent photos but not everyone in the UK & Europe embraces the pond idea, just like most of you there are concerns, I certainly have some.

The filtration uses several different parts where nutrients are removed from the water, either phosphates or nitrates and then planting of types that tolerate the water with which option has been chosen. Biological filters are used and just like a reed toilet system by example the bacteria are broken down, they work so ponds can work, do they work quickly enough for a public pool not sure. I know there is a new filter in development for one of the companies (Clear water revival) which they think they will have all the answers.

I really wonder if it's the natural settings that people really like rather than the formal pools. From the photos they seem to loose something when they are formal swimming pools albeit great designs. Is it really the lack of chlorine people want? or just a more natural setting?

[PoolDoc]

You probably realize that 'environmentalism' is essentially a substitute-religion for a lot of people today, and being 'natural' is a form of religious expression for them. Careful analysis of the facts tends not to be an important part of how many people approach their religion.

What evidence I've been able to find suggest that these natural pools are not nearly as safe as chlorine pools, especially as the bather load increases. But "more risk" does NOT equal "much risk" -- a distinction that eludes even many educated people.

But my guess is the risk is still pretty low for these pools, if they aren't used commercially. After all, my family's (and my own) PERSONAL preference is swimming in the ocean, which is more risky than either these natural pools or chlorinated pools, not just from infection, but from the OTHER wildlife or from physical hazards.

Many discussions of health risk today ignore that the MAJOR avoidable risks for most people are things like over-eating, not enough exercise, cigarettes, and poor medical treatment, including nosocomial infections. Infections transmitted in pools, or chemical risks from pool treatment are MINOR risks by comparison.

The higher risk SERIOUS events around pools, including drownings, slips & falls, electrocution, diving injuries, etc. rather than chemical or infection events.

[BigDave]

...(Clear water revival)...

Creedence, I love Creedence. There's plenty of natural swimming Down on the Bayou.

[Anonymous [GDPR] European in the UK]

Creedence, I love Creedence. There's plenty of natural swimming Down on the Bayou.

Nice, BigDave. did you catch my comment here: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...221#post116221

[BigDave]

I did. Smoke on the Water was stuck in my head until I changed to CCR - lasted the rest of the day.

[chem geek]

A while back I started a thread Natural Swimming Pools (NSPs) where I analyzed the theoretical risk using the standards for such pools compared to EPA and DIN 19643 standards. The basic tradeoff for such pools is increasing the risk of ill swimmers from virtually nil to 7-10 per 1000 per season. However, as the links in Ben's earlier post in this thread show, even these looser biological standards aren't being consistently met, especially for Pseudomonas aeruginosa found in 27-28% of measured samples in 43% of pools and even with Legionella found in 3 out of 4 samples in an indoor pool. The mere presence of bacteria exceeding limits does not mean there will be associated disease, but the risk becomes higher.

[PoolDoc]

One of the questions I've had about these pools was whether they'd actually be used, after being built. I've seen an awful lot of pool equipment turned off or abandoned after owners or users found it too expensive, too complicated or too unreliable to use. Those experiences have made me wonder about these pools. I can find accounts of people BUILDING these pools, but no accounts or photos of people USING them after they were built.

Most of the natural pool + people photos seem to be pro-shots, posted with models, like these:






I could accept that both shots above reflect actual use. But not so much with this next one, which I find funny, though I doubt the photographer intended that effect:



Every time I look that that photo, in my mind I hear the model asking, "Can I get out of here, now? Please!". I also know what happens to white or light swimsuits when they brush up against algae covered surfaces. You can be sure that a wardrobe change was needed before additional shots were taken!