Diving into cool water, enjoying a relaxing swim, and sharing time with family or friends by the pool are pleasures that bring health, well-being, and happiness. Having a pool within reach improves our quality of life, but choosing naturalized pools It multiplies these benefits and extends them beyond the personal: it provides advantages to nature, wildlife, and the garden environment. If you want to know What are the benefits of naturalized pools?In this article, you'll discover everything you need to know to decide on this ecological oasis.
What are naturalized pools?
When talking about swimming pools, many people think of the smell of chlorine and chemicals like bromine, clarifiers, flocculants, and algaecides. These are common in traditional pool maintenance, but their use has negative consequences for health and the environment. The naturalized pools, also called biopools or ecological pools, break with this scheme and offer a completely different bathing experience.
A naturalized pool is a swimming area designed to blend harmoniously into its surroundings, where the water is purified without chemicals. The purification process mimics nature, using biological filters with aquatic plants, gravel, sand, and microorganisms that keep the water clean and crystal clear. You can learn more about what a naturalized pool is here..
Their appearance resembles a small lake or pond, blending into the garden and creating a habitat suitable for animals and plants. They not only become the center of leisure and relaxation for the home, but also improve local biodiversity and environmental quality.
Key elements of a naturalized pool:
- Separate areas for bathing and purification/regeneration.
- Presence of aquatic plants adapted to the local ecosystem.
- Total absence of chlorine, bromine or other chemical agents.
- Purification through natural filters (sand, gravel, volcanic stones, bacterial biofilm, etc.).
How does a naturalized pool work?
The main characteristic of naturalized pools is their biological purification system, which is based on the life cycles of nature and replaces conventional chemical treatments with ecological processes. To understand it in detail, you need to understand its two components:
- Bathing area: It is the space designated for bathers. It has variable depths depending on the design and is physically or functionally separated from the regeneration zone.
- Regeneration or purification zone: It contains aquatic plants, gravel, and substrates. Water purification takes place here, mimicking the functioning of lakes and river systems. Water flows naturally or through low-consumption pumps from the bathing area to this area, where microorganisms and plants remove nutrients and organic matter.
The basic mechanism is based on the activation of the nitrogen cycleBacteria transform ammonia (from organic matter) into nitrates, which are then absorbed by plants. In turn, the substrates and biofilm retain and filter particles, while the roots oxygenate and purify the water. This system keeps the water clean and balanced year-round, without the need to empty the pool frequently or add additional treatments.
By integrating sand, gravel, and stones, physical filtration is combined with biological filtration, allowing nutrients to be absorbed before unwanted algae proliferate. The result is a crystal clear and healthy water, suitable for bathing, consumption by birds and other animals, and without the smell or taste of chlorine.
Types of naturalized pools according to their design and operation
There are several types of naturalized pools or biopools, depending on their integration with the environment, the layout of the areas, and the owner's resources:
- Biopools with a traditional look: They maintain a bathroom basin clearly differentiated from the purification area, which facilitates isolation from the enjoyment area.
- Swimming-pond or raft type pools: They imitate natural ponds, with a large sheet of water where the purification and bathing areas may be less defined and immersion is carried out surrounded by vegetation.
- Converted pools: They allow you to transform a conventional pool into an ecological pool by adding natural filters and vegetated areas, without the need for major earthworks.
Water quality and maintenance parameters in naturalized pools
The water quality in a naturalized pool is comparable to, and even superior to, that of a traditional pool when certain parameters are met:
- pH: enjoyed between 6,0 and 9,0.
- Transparency: must allow visibility of the background.
- Redox potential: between 250 and 900 mV.
- Turbidity: less than 5 UNF.
- Absence of pathogens: without the presence of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa o Legionella sp.
The key is that The pool does not require chemical treatments or aggressive sterilization processes. However, to avoid imbalances, it is essential to correctly design the plant areas, select the right species, and control the volume and flow of water. You can learn more about the operation of purification in naturalized pools.
Ecological and environmental benefits of naturalized pools
The Naturalized pools provide multiple benefits to the ecosystem and the sustainability of the environment:
- Zero chemical emissions: By eliminating chlorine and other substances, water and air pollution, as well as the generation of hazardous waste, are avoided.
- Reducing drinking water consumption: The pool doesn't need to be emptied periodically, as the natural system itself maintains the balance. Only the water that evaporates is replenished.
- Promotion of biodiversity: The aquatic areas and the immediate surroundings become a refuge for birds, beneficial insects, amphibians and other animals, improving the garden's ecosystem.
- CO2 capture and reduction of the ecological footprint: Vegetation acts as a carbon sink, helping to mitigate climate change and purifying the air.
- Landscape integration and housing enhancement: The natural and harmonious environment generated by this type of pool increases the aesthetic and economic value of the garden.
Benefits for the health and well-being of bathers
Users of a naturalized pool enjoy a healthy bathing experience, free from chemical aggressions:
- Preventing irritation: Since there is no chlorine or other disinfectants, it prevents skin irritation, red eyes, and respiratory problems.
- Healthier skin and hair: The usual symptoms of dryness, discoloration or allergies disappear, allowing for more natural contact with water.
- Relaxing effect: Integration with nature, the singing of birds, and the movement of vegetation turn bathing into an anti-stress therapy, ideal for improving mental and emotional health.
- Possibility of adding fish: In specific projects, fish help control insects and improve water quality, completing the ecological cycle.
Scientific studies show that direct contact with aquatic ecosystems and green spaces reduces stress, improves sleep quality, and stimulates creativity, so regular swimming in a naturalized pool is a plus for overall well-being.
Savings and economic benefits of naturalized pools
In addition to caring for health and the environment, Naturalized pools allow for savings in maintenance costs:
- They do not need expensive chemicals (chlorine, algaecides, pH correctors, flocculants, etc.).
- Power consumption is typically lower, as they can operate with low-flow pumps and efficient recirculation systems.
- The vegetation and self-cleaning system mean less time and money spent on intensive cleaning.
- They do not require periodic emptying or water replacement, which represents another considerable saving.
- Basic maintenance (pruning plants, removing surface debris) can be performed as part of garden maintenance, without the need for complex external services.
Although the initial investment may be somewhat higher than that of a conventional pool, the return is obtained in just a few years thanks to savings in products and energy, and the reduced need for technical interventions.
Considerations and possible disadvantages to take into account
Before deciding on a naturalized pool, it's essential to know a few things to ensure the project's success:
- Minimum dimensions: For the natural system to function properly, a minimum surface area of 25 m² and a depth of approximately 2,2 metres is recommended.
- Space for the purification area: At least part of the land should be dedicated to vegetation, which can reduce the space available for other activities if the garden is small.
- Limited capacity depending on the number of bathers: If the recommended capacity is exceeded, the system may become unbalanced and water quality may decrease.
- Vegetation maintenance: During spring and autumn, plants will need to be cared for and pruned regularly.
- Organic waste management: Although the system is self-cleaning, it is advisable to remove leaves and plant debris, especially in autumn.
- Supervising children: As with any pool, constant monitoring and adaptation of the depth to family use is recommended.
Technical aspects, installation and customization of naturalized pools
No two naturalized pools are alike, as each design depends on the terrain, climate, aesthetic preferences, and investment capacity. Key points for building and customizing pools include:
- Choice of aquatic plant species: They must adapt to the climate and perform purifying and aesthetic functions. Among the most commonly used are the yellow iris, the rush, the horsetail, and the water mint.
- Filtration and biofilm system: The biological filter must be sized according to the volume of the vessel and the purification needs.
- natural materials: Gravel, sand, volcanic rock, wood or ceramic elements integrate perfectly into the aesthetics and contribute to filtration.
- Pumps and recirculation: Low-flow pumps and alternative energy systems optimize performance and reduce energy consumption.
- Flexibility of shapes and finishes: Biopools adapt to any space, allowing their shape, depth and finishes to be customized according to the owner's taste.
If you have a conventional pool, there are companies and professionals specialized in naturalize existing pools by incorporating natural purification systems and green areas to enhance their benefits.
Tips for maintenance and safety in naturalized pools
Maintaining a naturalized pool is simple, but requires following some guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy experience:
- Perform periodic cleaning to remove leaves and floating debris.
- Prune and care for plants according to the season (especially in spring and autumn).
- Monitor water quality through basic and visual tests (transparency, odor, color).
- Use appropriate lighting systems to avoid nighttime accidents.
- Respect the fauna and flora of the aquatic ecosystem, avoiding harming or disturbing animals and plants.
- Always supervise children and pets around water, as in any pool.
