Natural swimming pools harness the power of plants and beneficial bacteria to create a vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystem, leaving water so pure it’s safe to drink.
Our uniquely designed "maintenance free" biofilter gently removes impurities like ammonia, phosphates, nitrates, and even dissolved metals. The result is a serene, healthy environment where you can connect to nature with every refreshing dip.
Unlike traditional pools, which rely on chlorine or salt/chlorine to sterilize water, our approach works in harmony with nature. Conventional methods can leave behind a chemical taste and accumulated impurities. In contrast, a diverse micro-ecosystem naturally eliminates harmful pathogens, ensuring clean, balanced water without the need for harsh chemicals.
I have always been fascinated by water and particularly freshwater ecology.
My further studies and work in the field of life sciences enabled me a deeper understanding of the cycles of life in biological filtration.
I am deeply passionate about making a positive change towards bringing people closer to the natural world.
With a background in architecture and years in the environmental sector, I bring a deep passion for natural systems to Nature-Life Pools. My time at the Two Oceans Aquarium honed my expertise in biofiltration and water reticulation, but it’s my love for crafting mini-wetlands using native plants that truly drives me. By selecting native species that thrive in their local environment, I design natural swimming pools that are sustainable, harmonious, and beautifully integrated with the landscape.
ASSISTED CREATIVE DESIGN
FAQ
1. How does a natural swimming pool (or eco pool) work?
The best way to describe it, is to compare it to a conventional pool.
In short - a conventional pool works against nature and a natural pool collaborates with her.
A 'normal' pool uses chlorine (or salt chlorinators) and various other chemicals to kill and suppress all life in the water. So the nutrients that would give life to algae and other life forms are still contained in the water, but all life is constantly 'poisoned' – not very different to spraying unwanted weeds on a conventional farmland.
A natural pool on the other hand uses a biological filtration system and passes the water gently through a stone layer to 'mechanically' filter or 'sieve' the water.
The biological filter comprises out of plants and beneficial microscopic life, like good bacteria, plant plankton and zooplankton (small animals).
All life need nutrients to grow and this biofilter strips all the nutrients out of the water, leaving nothing for the unwanted algae and pathogenic bacteria.
This 'biomimicry' means that we have developed a system whereby we 'copy' how nature cleanses water in rivers, wetlands and estuaries...
In summary, the good guys in the biofilter outcompete the bad guys for life giving nutrients and the stone aggregate traps solid material.
2. What are the advantages of a natural swimming pool cape town?
There are more detailed answers elsewhere in this section, but some bullet points are:
3. Is it more expensive to run a natural pool cape town?
The pumps we use are on average 8 x more energy efficient as it does not have to run at such high pressures – although it needs to run for 24 hrs vs 8hrs for a conventional pool pump, there are significant energy savings.
Chemicals:
A natural pool does not need any chemicals - so no chlorine, shock treatments, algaecides etc as we all know adds up to lots of money.
4. Do mozzies survive in a natural pool?
Mosquitoes only lay their eggs in stagnant water with low oxygen levels mostly in temporary water, where the biological balance is out.
Natural pools have high levels of dissolved oxygen and the water is constantly moving.
On top of that, I feel sorry for that poor larvae when a predatory dragon fly nymph is doing the rounds...
You would still have to empty skimmer baskets and net out leaves that fall in, but on the whole
It’s much less work to maintain a natural pool.
The bottom needs occasional vacuuming, dependent on the individual’s aesthetic sensibilities, but most natural pool owners accept the sediment as part of the natural wonders of such a system...
The plants, occasionally need pruning and dead leaves and bits need to be removed, much like a garden patch.
The key is to reduce organic material entering the pool from the outside upsetting the balance.
6. Can you keep fish in a natural pool?
Yes, but no more than a few small fish which can be sustained by the pool's ecosystem. Fish must never be fed as this will introduce nutrients to the system.
7. Do I need a lot of space for a natural pool?
The rule of thumb is that the planted area needs to be about the same size as the pool. There are however various technologies other than a conventional external wetland.
An internal wetland – a floating wetland or a bricked wetland that is built inside the pool - however can utilize about 30% of the surface of a pool, meaning you need no more extra space, but have to give up some space inside your pool.
8. Which nutrients are most important to deal with in a natural pool?
Nitrogen cycle:
Plants and other life are unable to utilise these forms of nitrogen, so it gets broken down in two separate cycles by two different types of bacteria – so called nitrification.
The Ammonia (NH4) brakes down to Nitrites (NO2) and then further to Nitrates (NO3) which plants and other microbes can safely assimilate.
Phosphorous cycle:
It cannot 'evaporate' like Nitrogen. The only way for phosphates to be taken out of the system is for it to be taken up by plants or physically removed. A combination of sediment removal and pruning is the ideal way!