This blog is an informational website sponsored by two industry experts; Michael Littlewood of Eco Design Scape and David Nettleton of Clear Water Revival
The website aims to provide information on what we believe is the future of the swimming pool industry – natural swimming pools, also known as natural swimming ponds.
Articles will cover areas including items such as “what is a natural swimming pool?”, “what is a natural swimming pond?”, “converting a chemical pool to a natural swimming pool”, “how long does a natural pool take to establish” and many more…
Please raise comments and request article titles to Michael or David and help drive this informational blog forwards.
Hi, I really would like to hear and learn more about “converting a chemical pool to a natural swimming pool”. We have a big pool we would like to convert here in Costa Rica. Do you have any references on how or where to start? Thanks
does any oneor any body know if you can buy or make up the filtration process for a natural pool in australia? Or should i just buy micheal littlewoods books on how to build a natural swimming pool?, which im up for doing as long as i can pick up the right filtration !thanks darren
Hi Lucas,
We’ll put an article together on pool conversions…
thanks for your interest
Darren,
Do use Michael’s book but filtration is difficult to master by yourself….also try contacting Peter Zanon at p.zanon@mynaturalpool.com.au
best
David
As a small contractor building ponds I certainly would like to start building Natural Swimming Pools. What would you recommend how a should approach my costumers!
For me this can be the best of both worlds.
Candide
Norwalk CT
Hi where are you situated,? would like a small natural pond /pool in built into my garden in
Anjuna Goa
Hi guys,
Greetings from Buderim, Queensland
Wish to convert our unused swimming pool into a natural fish pond. Is there anyone here in Australia that may be able to assist?
Thanks
Christine Greenaway
dAvid:
I am fom chile south america and I like too by the book of mr.littlewoods,and master by my self,the transformaction of the ordinary pool too a natural swimming pool…can you help me ,and tell me what should I do?
Thanks.
I live in California, and am trying to plan on building a natural pool. I read one of your pdf`s and it shows the inner wall dividing the pool from the natural area being a vertical wall.
A few other websites were talking about not having to use shot-crete, rebar, or retaining walls, but advise for every 1 foot drop a 3 foot horizontal distance. That way I never get to 7 feet deep. So what kind of structural wall do you have to build to separate the two ?
Christian Hi
Seymour from Israel
Finished building our natural swimming pool 3 months ago
We did a lot of reading and searching the web (including both books Michael Littlewoods)
The truth of the matter is that there is no simple straight forward way of doing it
As a building constructor it was easier for us to build the pool out of concrete and water proof it with a cement based coating ( 9 coats to be exact )
Our pool is 55 cubic meter volume 2/3 swimming area 1/3 bio filter
We used our experience with fresh water aquariums and went from there; we also built another 2.5 by 1 meter pool on the higher level of out garden which also give another whole area of filtration and a beautiful water garden in another part of the garden
Because of the hot weather over here we installed 2 75 watt UV lights which help control the algae and of course purifies from all other horrible things
Right now we mainly have two separate pump systems
1) The planting area drains through agricultural tubes and run to the main pump from there through the UV lamps and back to the pool through outlets in the deepest part ,2m
That way we also keep mixing the cooler water from the bottom to the top
2) The skimmer ( plain pool skimmer worked out the cheapest)drains to the second pump up to the additional pool and from the a free fall of the water back to the swimming area via a water fall so that the water is also aerated
Obviously it’s still cycling and we are learning as we go…
1) One problem was that we had a massive amount of mosquitoes, we put in around 30 Gambuzi fish and in about 2 days there were no more, now the fish are breeding at such a rate we catch them and feed them to our fish in the aquarium and also lately every morning there are a pair of Kingfishers having breakfast “It’s amazing to see how nature works its wonders.
2) A couple of weeks ago a very small frog moved in and stated croaking ,we were all ecstatic in the beginning until the neighbors started phoning and complaining , we put a 75 shekel bounty on his head and one of the boys caught him and we released him in the town fish pond
3) One of the biggest problems is String algae ,this stuff is amazing how fast it grows ,our solution is every couple of days one of the boys does a round and collects it all ,seems to be controlling it so far .I know there are all sorts of natural additives that are supposed to control it
4) Another unexpected problem is water snails that must have arrived with the flowers and are breeding at a crazy rate, as of now we just clean them off and are still looking for the secret solution.
All in all its one of the best crazy projects that we have done (we’ve done a lot) just the feel and taste of the water is amazing.
We made a short film on you tube “levert natural swimming pool”
We are happy to help anyone who needs a bit of advice and encouragement
seymourl@dekoran.co.il
I am looking for a consultant to help me build a large public natural swimming pool in Goa, india.
Look forward to hearing from you Ute
David has just completed our pool – a natural swimming pool in the farmyard of a Grade 2 listed Barn conversion. It took us some time, not helped by a leaky liner which took some time to fix, but now it’s done it’s a wonderful addition to our holiday home!
Got up to 28C within a couple of weeks of filling, though that was in a hot spell of weather, but seems to sit around 20-22C most of the time!
Can’t wait for all the planting to fill out next season, and to be really able to enjoy it in all its glory!
Hi
I have a large pool in the country (only there weekends ) that has been built but not finished. It is in ground and concrete. I would like to go the Eco and low maintenance way . Were can I find / buy a book that tells me step by step how to achieve this myself ,plants ,filters , ultraviolet lights etc?
I am the developer of a large proposed food production facility which will incorporate aquaculture, traditional farming and ranching methods and greenhouses in Calgary Alberta area. The food production facilities will be an extension and source of products for a Farmer’s market to be located on the same 160 acres. The intent is to produce a diverse range of organic foods year round. I intend to incorporate natural pool technology into the trout raceways, catfish ponds and other food production faculties.
Also part of the residential community and the light industrial parks I intend to install natural pools and water features. I am seeking advice, resources and expertise in the areas of food production, food security, urban agriculture. The above described sub-development is a part of a larger master planned 2,500 acre community.
Dexter (Calgary.Vancouver)
We are looking at building a natural swimming pool in Kentucky. I have priced out gunite base using a natural swimming pool design, and it is crazy expensive (almost $60,000 not including the plants or anything around the pool area!). I am curious on the exact way to create the base without making it muddy. I want a clean, modern look, but mixed in with the natural plants, perhaps a pea gravel base? I would like to build it ourselves (we are landscape contractors and have pretty comprehensive knowledge and experience in related areas) for around or less than $10,000. Is this possible? Please help!
Hello,
Is it possible to build a natural pool indoors if you have the area set up with adequate lighting?
Thanks.
Thanks for the question.
It is indeed very possible as Clear Water Revival build indoor natural swimming pools all the time. You don’t actually need to have plants in our natural pools any more either so light isn’t really an issue. In the Clear Water Revival system the plants are there simply to maintain the life of the filtration bed and look pretty and now they offer a reactor system that sits in the pump house and filters the water biologically without the need for any form of filtration bed or planted area.
Hope this helps.
Natural Swimming Pools
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to
say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
I enjoy reading your post, thank you very much.
Shalom
My wife and decided to build our own natural swimming pool in the back garden
Will be happy to give advice as to what we did till now and how we went ahead with it
I am pleased to say that the best way is to just do it and we have learnt a lot during the ride
good luck all
I have bought and read Michaels book on natural pools BUT …. It is a very interesting idea and I would like to convert my pool in Mexico However…The book seems rather sparce in real information on the nuts & bolts methods of really doing it. I have many mexican professionals that can help me do this but we need more information WITHOUT buying airfare and importing English professionals to cross the Atlantic to get here.
Are you ever going to write a FOLLOW UP BOOK…and tell us how to really do it …Ihope….. Richard Thank you
Hello,
Please let me know what are the best books available on how to build a natural pool. The more technical, the better
Kind regards
Pierre
Cape Town
South Africa
Pierre Shalom
Seymour from Israel
Finished building our natural swimming pool 3 months ago
We did a lot of reading and searching the web (including both books Michael Littlewoods)
The truth of the matter is that there is no simple straight forward way of doing it
As a building constructor it was easier for us to build the pool out of concrete and water proof it with a cement based coating ( 9 coats to be exact )
Our pool is 55 cubic meter volume 2/3 swimming area 1/3 bio filter
We used our experience with fresh water aquariums and went from there; we also built another 2.5 by 1 meter pool on the higher level of out garden which also give another whole area of filtration and a beautiful water garden in another part of the garden
Because of the hot weather over here we installed 2 75 watt UV lights which help control the algae and of course purifies from all other horrible things
Right now we mainly have two separate pump systems
1) The planting area drains through agricultural tubes and run to the main pump from there through the UV lamps and back to the pool through outlets in the deepest part ,2m
That way we also keep mixing the cooler water from the bottom to the top
2) The skimmer ( plain pool skimmer worked out the cheapest)drains to the second pump up to the additional pool and from the a free fall of the water back to the swimming area via a water fall so that the water is also aerated
Obviously it’s still cycling and we are learning as we go…
1) One problem was that we had a massive amount of mosquitoes, we put in around 30 Gambuzi fish and in about 2 days there were no more, now the fish are breeding at such a rate we catch them and feed them to our fish in the aquarium and also lately every morning there are a pair of Kingfishers having breakfast “It’s amazing to see how nature works its wonders.
2) A couple of weeks ago a very small frog moved in and stated croaking ,we were all ecstatic in the beginning until the neighbors started phoning and complaining , we put a 75 shekel bounty on his head and one of the boys caught him and we released him in the town fish pond
3) One of the biggest problems is String algae ,this stuff is amazing how fast it grows ,our solution is every couple of days one of the boys does a round and collects it all ,seems to be controlling it so far .I know there are all sorts of natural additives that are supposed to control it
4) Another unexpected problem is water snails that must have arrived with the flowers and are breeding at a crazy rate, as of now we just clean them off and are still looking for the secret solution.
All in all its one of the best crazy projects that we have done (we’ve done a lot) just the feel and taste of the water is amazing.
We made a short film on you tube “levert natural swimming pool”
We are happy to help anyone who needs a bit of advice and encouragement
seymourl@dekoran.co.il
Hi, ‘Bristol’ caught my eye as we are in South Gloucestershire and currently converting a concrete and brick pond – rectangular – 17′ x 8′ wide and almost 3′ in depth. We are trying to make this into a natural swimming pond and realise it will not be easy, bearing in mind the dimensions. However, any guidance you can give or point us in the right direct would be greatly appreciated, eg plants, planting area, filtration etc etc. We are trying to do this ourselves but have come up against brick wall trying to find right plants etc. Can you help please? Site is open aspect and very sunny, if not a little windy at time. I have saved water lilies and irises because I just cannot bear to lose them all!! Hope to hear from you.
Dee Baker, Tormarton
Dee Shalom
Seymour from Israel
Finished building our natural swimming pool 3 months ago
We did a lot of reading and searching the web (including both books Michael Littlewoods)
The truth of the matter is that there is no simple straight forward way of doing it
As a building constructor it was easier for us to build the pool out of concrete and water proof it with a cement based coating ( 9 coats to be exact )
Our pool is 55 cubic meter volume 2/3 swimming area 1/3 bio filter
We used our experience with fresh water aquariums and went from there; we also built another 2.5 by 1 meter pool on the higher level of out garden which also give another whole area of filtration and a beautiful water garden in another part of the garden
Because of the hot weather over here we installed 2 75 watt UV lights which help control the algae and of course purifies from all other horrible things
Right now we mainly have two separate pump systems
1) The planting area drains through agricultural tubes and run to the main pump from there through the UV lamps and back to the pool through outlets in the deepest part ,2m
That way we also keep mixing the cooler water from the bottom to the top
2) The skimmer ( plain pool skimmer worked out the cheapest)drains to the second pump up to the additional pool and from the a free fall of the water back to the swimming area via a water fall so that the water is also aerated
Obviously it’s still cycling and we are learning as we go…
1) One problem was that we had a massive amount of mosquitoes, we put in around 30 Gambuzi fish and in about 2 days there were no more, now the fish are breeding at such a rate we catch them and feed them to our fish in the aquarium and also lately every morning there are a pair of Kingfishers having breakfast “It’s amazing to see how nature works its wonders.
2) A couple of weeks ago a very small frog moved in and stated croaking ,we were all ecstatic in the beginning until the neighbors started phoning and complaining , we put a 75 shekel bounty on his head and one of the boys caught him and we released him in the town fish pond
3) One of the biggest problems is String algae ,this stuff is amazing how fast it grows ,our solution is every couple of days one of the boys does a round and collects it all ,seems to be controlling it so far .I know there are all sorts of natural additives that are supposed to control it
4) Another unexpected problem is water snails that must have arrived with the flowers and are breeding at a crazy rate, as of now we just clean them off and are still looking for the secret solution.
All in all its one of the best crazy projects that we have done (we’ve done a lot) just the feel and taste of the water is amazing.
We made a short film on you tube “levert natural swimming pool”
We are happy to help anyone who needs a bit of advice and encouragement
seymourl@dekoran.co.il
Greetings,
I am so pleased I have found you guys
If you could email this information to robert@clear-water-revival.com. He would be the best person available to help you.