[Pil-pc-oceania] Natural Swimming Pools

[Robyn Francis]

Hi John

I've seen a few natural pools over the years (good, bad and ugly) the ones
that worked best had a deep gravel/pebble layer on the bottom of the pool
(this also functions as a biological filter), pumped the water from under
the gravel up through a sand filter then cascading through a series of
wetland gardens landscaping the pool edge. A natural pool won't look/perform
in the same way as a chlorinated pool as there will always be some form of
biological process and organic matter present. The Lennox pool mentioned
might work better with more wetland filtration and incoming water first
passing through a sand filter.

Ciao
Robyn


On 9/9/07 6:47 PM, "timwinton" <timwinton at internode.on.net> wrote:

> Hi John,
> 
> A permie friend of mine built a natural swimming pool at his suburban
> permaculture block in Lennox Head (Northern NSW). He had a normal commercial
> concrete, in ground pool installed with minor redesign and retro fits. He
> installed a solar pump and about 5 flow forms as well as a reed bed system
> to filter the water. He filled it with rain from the roof. I used it a few
> times and got to discuss its function over the course of a few years. It
> worked quite well, except that he got the occasional algal bloom after rain
> had flushed leaf detritus into the pool from the roof.  This had enough
> nutrient to cause the bloom. The blooms were more frequent in hotter
> weather, from memory. The reed bed was also a bit small. Occasionally he
> would ad a very small amount of chlorine to knock back the algal bloom and
> then it would work fine until the next time it decided to bloom. These were
> not bad and he cleared them up mostly as a matter of aesthetics for his
> friends who felt uncomfortable about swimming in green water.
> 
> On another note, there is someone up this way who has invented a silver
> based system for non chlorinated pools. I don't have his details, but could
> chase them up if you are interested. I heard him give a short presentation
> on the system. He indicated that he was having problems getting it approved,
> mostly because of lobbying by the pool chemical interests.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Tim
> 
> --
> Tim Winton
> Permaforest Trust
> Lot 3 Hidden Valley Rd
> Barkers Vale, NSW
> Australia 2474
> phone +61 02 6689 7579
> fax +61 02 9225 9536
> 
> www.permaforesttrust.org.au
> 
> Offering Certificate 4 and Diploma
> in Accredited Permaculture Training
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Champagne" <brogopg at bigpond.net.au>
> To: <pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
> Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2007 7:51 AM
> Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Natural Swimming Pools
> 
> 
>> Hi everyone,
>> 
>> Looking for any feedback from folk who have installed a natural swimming
>> pool. The Bega Eco Neighborhood Developers,(BEND) are about to start
>> earthworks soon and I just need to get an idea of shapes and patterns.As
>> this eco-neighborhood is in the urban fringe of the township of Bega, it
>> needs to get through council.
>> 
>> kind regards
>> John
>> Mumbulla Bioregion
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>> 
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-- 
Pathways to sustainability through
Accredited Permaculture Training
Certificates III & IV and Diploma of Permaculture
Erda Institute Inc

Robyn Francis 
International permaculture design and sustainability consultant, educator &
facilitator

Djanbung Gardens 
Permaculture Education Centre & Demonstration Farm
PO Box 379 Nimbin NSW 2480
02-6689 1755  /  0429 147 138
www.permaculture.com.au