Would you swim in a "Natural" pool

[red-beard]

Basically they are "ponds" that use "natural" water circulation to create a "green" pool. But the article seems to imply they are "cleaner" than a chlorine based pool. Some of the comments are idiotic as well.

Sounds like a friggen pond and it will have bacteria and all sorts of nasties in it.

I think this link should work for everyone.

Natural-Pool Owners Are Kissing Chlorine and Other Chemicals Goodbye

Intense demand during Covid and a shortage of chlorine tabs have homeowners hopping from chemical-treated pools to greener alternatives.

www.wsj.com

 

[mknauss]

Sure, the ocean. That is a natural pool I swim in.

 

[Mdragger88]

I swim in oceans & lakes but not sure i want that in my backyard for daily swimming. I enjoy my chlorinated water!

 

[AK-]

They are surely greener…

 

[JJ_Tex]

Um nope. As soon as something touched my leg while I was swimming I would be out of there and calling the bulldozers to fill it in.

 

[Katodude]

Natural-Pool Owners Are Kissing Chlorine and Other Chemicals Goodbye

Intense demand during Covid and a shortage of chlorine tabs have homeowners hopping from chemical-treated pools to greener alternatives.

www.wsj.com

Why would I put a mosquito breeding ground right in my backyard instead of my beautiful pool.

 

[Selenap]

Yeah this is gone be a hard pass for me. We have venomous critters here who would love a swamp in my yard to hunt around. I ain’t hosting a sunbathing party for rattlesnakes and copper heads.

 

[Newdude]

I live in an area with thousands of miles of natural water habitats. Mother Nature has figured it out amazingly with a billion years of trial and error.

To recreate it in your backyard would cost the regular build price *plus* several times that more. *This* is why the WSJ ‘reports’ they are few and far between, but it makes for a good article on a slow news day.

 

[Lineman7]

That's an expensive pond

 

[ls81]

sounds like my gf's pool last summer her pump burned out mid summer and she just threw in the towel. I've got the task of bringing it back now if her and the kid din't ruin it for me. lol

 

[trivetman]

My neighbor builds/maintains residential ponds and just put a swimming pond in his own backyard. I would not hesitate to go in one that is properly cared for. His normal ponds (think koi ponds) take annual maintenance to clean out beyond the daily water filtration and I am sure the swimming pond will be the same. Its just like swimming in a small inland lake. Not for everyone but great for some.

yes they are definitely more expensive and complicated as they rely on plants for natural filtration and also a giant external filter. I am sure some are designed better than others to keep the water clear

 

[Donldson]

Its just like swimming in a small inland lake.

It really isn't. Ponds, lakes, seas, oceans, etc are massive bodies of water with fully working ecosystems that naturally create environments that are not optimal for bad bacteria. Trying to replicate that in to a tiny body of water is extremely finicky and prone to failure. It's similar to trying to maintain an aquarium except with the added difficulties of being open to the outside air and sunlight. Unlike sanitized pools where the sanitizer level can assure you there's no problems, natural pools have no mechanism for verifying the water is properly cared for or safe.

I wouldn't swim in one, I wouldn't let my child swim in one. It may be a relatively small risk, but there's zero reward. Nothing is gained from going in to one of these, except for people who convince themselves that they are closer to nature by standing in the same water as fish in the middle of suburbia.

 

[john0886]

I enjoy swimming in the lake quite frequently, but dang... once you get used to your nice, clean pool it sure is a change. Especially when you see critters swimming all around you.