An Informative Article on Natural Pools.
Cowland July 28th, 2008
Here’s a informative overview of what natural pools or swimming ponds are all about. It’s from the Globe and Mail, a national Canadian newspaper. The article is informative in more ways than the obvious — with respect to this blog.
See the online version of the story (without the photos) here.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
It looks much prettier in color.
Just curious — How long does it take for the ecosystem to get firmly established and all the bacteria, etc., to get balanced? Do you have to take it easy on the pool/pond at first while all those things elements get properly established?
(haleyhughes’s last blog post: Let’s talk about reading, writing and blogging)
July 28th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
WEE!! I can’t wait to see it at the Pig Roast!
@Haley, you’re too smart for me! I would *never* have thought to ask that, and I’m going to go into it soon!
So… Peri, what’s your answer to Ms. Hughes question?
(fragileheart’s last blog post: Always look on the bright side of life)
July 29th, 2008 at 1:43 am
The pond looks great. I like how you gonna use it for a skating rink in the winter.
For the cost of building this thing, I could get myself a new Lexus.
(Rudy’s last blog post: Shopping for a New Car)
July 29th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I just realized that I always look angry on your site. Why do you make me angry, Peri?
(haleyhughes’s last blog post: I’m leaving on jet plane… tomorrow)
July 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Rudy: How fuel-economical is a Lexus?
fragile: Swimmers over 21 are only allowed naked into the pool. It’s the only way to keep it environmentally safe.
haley: You’re angry because you are so bored at work that you have to make tea to pass the time. No, seriously, the avatar is based on a plugin that uses an algorithm based on your email address to create your face. If you want an avatar of your own choosing, go to gravatar.com.
To answer your question: I don’t really know. There are a number of factors such as ambient temperature, amount of direct sunlight, and water quality.
In regular pools chlorine is used for 2 general reasons (in salt-water pools, the salt catalyzes chlorine formation, so there’s still a chlorine dependence). Chlorine kills pathogenic organisms such as E. Coli and protozoans. It also eliminates algae (string algae and planktonic algae) which would otherwise make the pool look and smell yucky.
In a pond, keeping the water moving and keeping ducks and other animals from crapping in the pool keeps pathogens to a minimum. If E. Coli levels do go up, we switch on our U.V. light to clear things up. The U.V. kills many of the good bacteria too though.
The aquatic plants do help to reduce pathogenic micro-organisms as well. Their main job, though, is to reduce the amount of nutrient material in the water (nitrogen, phosphorus, etc). By keeping those substances to a minimum, algae growth is minimized.
We noticed a substantial drop in planktonic algae — the water became less green and more transparent — after about a month. It is now crystal clear. String algae on the rocks and in the plant beds will probably continue forever. I told the reporter that maintaining the aquatic plant bed is the same as weeding and separating a perennial garden.
We were in the pool pretty much from day 1. We did have to be careful not to splash too much because the plants were not fully rooted then. We also recently discovered a really effective way to eliminate string algae from the rocks, so no more green rocks.
Once the aquatic plants grow more and cover the outer ring more densely, the string algae in those areas will not receive sunlight and therefore not be as much of a problem there.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Peri: True the water in the pool is crystal clear. However, it is too bad the weather is not cooperating so I could enjoy the pool more often.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Imagine having a regular pool that you need to actively chlorinate and maintain only to not get much use out of it. That would be a shame.
July 31st, 2008 at 6:48 pm
ahhh… prettttyyy
August 4th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Thanks Jeanie! The frogs sure think so.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Well, I really wish I could get to the BBQ and see your natural pool myself. Maybe if you have another BBQ next year.
Also, I signed up with Gravatar. Let’s see if the angry avatar goes away and my HH avatar appears.
(haleyhughes’s last blog post: Home)
August 4th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
It works! Now your initials are inscribed in blood on my blog. Your Gravatar will appear on tons of Wordpress blogs now because the newest versions of Wordpress incorporate Gravatar support natively.
Jury is still out about future pig roasts. Calculus grumbles every year about how much prep the whole event takes and how she’s not having any more ever. Then she enjoys herself and invites tons of people to the next one.
January 8th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
Just saying a quick hello from another garden enthusiast. Good and well written article. I will be visiting again! take care
January 9th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Thanks for visiting!