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Natural swimming pools are the true realization of a healthy, environmentally friendly backyard resort. Not only does a natural pool look beautiful and seamlessly blend into its surroundings, it boasts special design, materials, and equipment that maintain the water without chemicals. That’s right, zero chlorine!To achieve swim-ready water in an organic fashion, natural pools are patterned after the ecosystems in lakes and ponds. In what’s called a regeneration zone, they create a virtual wetland with a mix of aquatic plants, rock and gravel that attract friendly microbes, special filtration, and disinfection systems. These elements form an ecosystem that functions like a miniature water-treatment plant, cleaning the water and then pumping it back into the main pool.
This regeneration zone is constructed as a distinct section of the pool. In some cases, it is built as an entirely separate vessel adjacent to the main pool. In either case, the zone is dedicated to the plant life ecosystem; people cannot swim in it.
With their gorgeous looks and chemical-free swimming environment, what’s not to love about natural swimming pools? As desirable as they are, natural pools have special requirements and limitations. Here are five key questions that pose practical challenges for many homeowners considering a natural pool:
Natural pools are rare in the U.S. and are a true specialty project. Some claim that their cost per square foot is the same as a traditional pool. However, when you remember that your natural pool area (with regeneration zone) needs to be roughly double the size of the pool you want for actual swimmer use, the math does not pencil out: The total cost of a natural pool will run higher than that of a traditional one. And you can almost certainly forget about getting more than one estimate on a natural pool; there are very, very few U.S. markets with a single company building this unique kind of project—let alone two.
With natural pools, you need to consider the appearance of the water—and what’s in it. It looks like the water in a pond. Sometimes it will be relatively clear, but there will be varying levels of algae and sediment present. Levels will vary with conditions like heat, rain, and seasonal changes that affect the plant life and microorganisms. For some homeowners, organic-looking water is appealing and part of the unique beauty of a natural pool. However, if you like a traditional pool’s crystal-clear water glistening against a white or blue interior finish, then a natural pool’s water may disappoint you.
If you seek a pool that will mimic the look of a pond or lake in your backyard and if you have a tropical or woodsy setting then a natural pool can be an excellent choice. However, certain pool styles and materials do not inherently fit well in a natural pool. For example, a modern design with clean lines, glass tile accents, and sleek cascade water features are not a great match for a natural pool. There are clever ways to achieve some degree of contemporary style in a natural pool. However, the aesthetic hurdles and construction costs typically increase and there are limits to what a builder can successfully pull off.