Chemical Free Swimming Pools

Natural swimming pools, which eschew chlorine and chemicals for bio-inspired filtration systems, have taken off in Europe but still are uncommon in North America.

In this system, pool water is first circulated over a large bed of locally sourced granite gravel, which serves as a natural cleansing filter as the water flows through it.

From here the water passes through man-made pond containing aquatic plants which provide a breeding ground for zooplankton.

These helpful microorganisms feed on bacteria cleansing the water. Finally, the water is circulated through a testing area and then pumped back into the pool, a process that takes about 12 hours.

Those who have taken a dip in a pool scrubbed by zooplankton claim the water feels a bit smoother than a traditional chlorine pool. Don't expect to see this application in our part of the world anytime soon, however, as exhaustive testing and case studies will need to be conducted to ensure bather safety.