NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS

Nature pools replace chlorine, heaters and filters with native water plants. Plant-filtered swimming pools do not use chemicals and can be built in any back yard. The process uses several different basins filled with plants to clean the water which then fills the swimming pool.

Water is pumped into a regenerating zone which is lined with plants specifically chosen for their ability to filter out organic material. There it is filtered, oxygenated and heated in shallows lined with white pebbles to reflect more heat into the pool. It then moves into the main bathing area either by pumping or gravity feed. The water is kept moving constantly so it does not stagnate.

While the cost of construction is similar to that of a normal pool, the natural pools need to cover a wider area. For the process to work the filtration and regeneration zones must be at least one and a half times the size of the bathing area.

Treating pools with chlorine or bromine can have negative side effects, not the least of which is relying on toxic chemicals.

President Candide Valadares said: "The majority of our clients are attracted by the idea of having and 'extra garden' but of an aquatic nature and which looks pretty all year round."

NATURAL SWIMMING POOL MYTHS & FACTS

Un-chlorinated water attracts animals - Any animals attracted to your natural swimming hole, such as dragonflies and frogs, keep to the plant side of the system, which is their natural habitat. And yes, you want them: They eat mosquitoes and their larvae, keeping your backyard free of biting pests.

Natural pools need a mud bottom - Sterilized soil is good for the plant pond, but for the swimming pool, you can use concrete, a synthetic or rubber liner, or bentonite clay. Adding 3 to 4 inches of pre-washed gravel to the bottom of your plant pond provides a habitat for beneficial bacteria that biodegrade any organic materials.

Stagnant Pool Water - While it’s true that standing, unmoving water can get brackish, it’s easy to continually move water over and around your plants’ roots so they can do their job of natural cleansing. A simple water pump will do the job at much less cost than a standard pool filtration unit.

Natural Swimming Pool looks like a pond - Actually, you can build a natural swimming pool that’s a dead ringer for a regular pool, complete with concrete sides and bottom, and a traditional sky-blue pool color. You can even substitute an out-of-sight gravel filter for the plant pond. Of course, making your natural pool look like a old swimming hole is attractive as well.