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Welcome to gartenART
Natural Swimming Pools
A natural swimming pool is
specifically designed so you can swim in pure, clear water with
no chemicals. Its design can range from formal to entirely
natural, and it can be a healthy freshwater pool without plants,
a formal water garden and beautiful landscape feature or a
wildlife sanctuary.
Natural swimming pools respect the
environment and your health.
They are naturally the next step
in man-made swimming facilities, combining design, an
understanding of ecological systems, and the latest in
bio-technology, to produce one of the most innovative and
complete garden features today.
My name is Ralf Schmiel, founder
of gartenART England and Australia and board member of our
international association IOB with 350 individual and 13 member
countries, including Australia.
Services:
If you are looking for help or
advise, you can use my
Consultation Service (nationally and internationally).
My service is for everyone,
seeking help with a problematic natural pool, DIY enthusiasts,
professional natural pool builder and governmental bodies and
institutions. I’m available by phone, Skype, email and in person.
If you are looking to
build a natural pool from scratch
or to convert your existing
pool then here is where your project can begin.
Australia, with its unique
climates and unique wildlife (plentiful and sometimes not so
charming), needs uniquely designed Natural Pools.
The latest development, tailored
to Australian conditions by gartenART, are
pool conversions that can
be achieved even without plants. Powerful natural filters that
work on a micro-biological basis make it possible. It also
enables small pools in small places.
Please see examples of Natural
Pools by gartenART in England, France and Greece in the gallery;
the first examples of natural Australian pools will soon be
presented.
I recommend also downloading my
slideshow and
reading the customer
testimonials, that reflect on my work.
If you have any questions please
call us on (02) 69 47 61 60 or email
info@gartenart-australia.com.
I hope you enjoy your visit here
and find it helpful.
What are natural swimming pools?
Natural Pools are
not just a trend anymore, they are the next step in man-made
swimming facilities; they are simply healthier and more
environmentally friendly than chemically treated pools.
In
conventional pools we use chemicals such as chlorine in an
attempt to control all potentially hazardous life forms that
naturally inhabit water by simply attacking all life forms,
hazardous and beneficial. For a long time this was the only
means we knew to make pools safe.
Natural Pools
work with the self purifying properties of water; the
microscopic and macroscopic life forms that inhabit it. Here we
attempt to achieve a natural balance of water that is found in
clear rivers and glacial and mountain lakes; a moving,
sparkling, oxygen rich, low nutrient and high mineral water.
Natural
Pools are a prime example of how we can harness nature’s
intelligence efficiently.
Our
understanding of natural water has developed to such a degree
that we now build Natural Pools in Germany that are visited by
up to 6,000 people a day. These pools use very powerful filters
and pool robots to maintain exceptionally high public hygiene
standards.
With our
most advanced technology existing pools can now be converted to
natural, healthy freshwater pools with no chemicals. A new
generation of powerful natural filters that work on a
micro-biological basis create this miracle even without plants.
At the same
time you can use almost all equipment that is used in
conventional pools including sand filters, in-floor cleaners and
heating systems.
Health and
environmental benefits of Natural Pools
*
Swimming in natural water can provide real health
benefits and the sheer joy of being in such water is one health
factor. Children adore swimming in natural water. We warn you,
it will be difficult to get them out of the pool!
*
For people with asthma or any form of lung
illness the natural pool water is a great option to keep
enjoying swimming.
*
Some people have skin problems and can’t use
chemically treated water for this reason. Natural, soft water is
usually no problem to your troubled skin and can even provide
relief and healing.
*
Natural Pools are also the end of dried out,
bleached skin and hair.
*
No stinging eyes anymore.
*
Safe water; you never need to empty your natural
pool, simply top it up to balance water lost through
evaporation.
* No pool
water containing chemicals will enter our sewage systems, soil,
groundwater or rivers and seas: Its just natural water.
Cleanliness
The
cleanliness of Natural Pools simply depends on the type of pool
you want and how powerful the filter technology is that you
implement.
Water in
our Natural Pools with microbiologically active filters is
crystal clear all year round. It is of a very high quality by
German hygienic and limnology standards and suitable for public
usage.
In some
cases there can be a temporary occurrence of filamentous algae
which vanishes after a short time.
In more
nature-like designs you naturally have more sedimentation, bio
film and occasional algae and that is fine in a more natural
environment and design. But even here you can invest in a
stronger filtration and cleaning system and have a very clean
pool.
Aesthetic benefits
If your
Natural Pool has a planting area then you can also enjoy your
pool as water garden all year round, experiencing the seasonal
changes and the garden’s maturation over years; you will enjoy
sitting by the water even if you don’t fancy a swim. Whatever
planting style, formal or informal, your water place will become
an oasis for tranquil hours. Even if it is simply a pool with
natural water and no plants, it will still have a very different
look and feel.
I have this
photo for you that says it all: After I had taken this picture I
saw that both the two builders were peacefully gazing at the
natural pool they had built. I realized that no one would gaze
at an ordinary pool like this. Only living water has that magic
something that allows you to rest and relax, even those hardy
builders did just that. And that is the experience you too can
expect from a natural pool.
Sensational water
On a
different note, the positive health and environmental effects
are obvious but what actually causes clients to rave is the
sensation of swimming in natural water. First, the water is
soft; it doesn’t sting or smell strange. It is good for your
skin, you can feel it. You relax, as swimming in natural water
is a most basic and joyful experience that leaves you
rejuvenated and feeling good.
Water in
its natural state is life affirming on all levels. Water is the
birthplace of life on Earth, it is the substance on which our
every cell depends and it is no wonder that healthy water has a
tremendously positive effect on us.
Swimming in
Natural Pools has converted the greatest sceptics into
enthusiasts. Read some experiences
How do natural
swimming pools work?
The family
of natural swimming pools is complex and diverse and so are
their workings.
The
classical concept was that of two zones – a deep, central
swimming area and a shallower surrounding area with plants which
are specially chosen to purify the water.
Other
concepts are based on separated swimming and purifying areas.
This generally takes the form of two completely separate pools;
one for swimming and the other with plants and/or the filtration
system. This method has been used for many public pools in
Europe. For some public pools the filtration system has been
incorporated into the surrounding landscaping.
The latest
concept makes it possible for pools to work without any plants,
relying on powerful natural bio filters that can simply be
installed inside or outside the pool and provide vividly clear
natural water.
This makes
it a perfect solution for pool conversions
and for small spaces.
gartenART
can offer a variety of designs and technology solutions
appropriate to your taste and practical requirements; from a
natural pool as a wildlife sanctuary to the formal classic pool
with natural fresh water that works without plants - just on the
micro-biological level.
Whichever
system you choose, the water used to fill the pool needs to be
analyzed as well as the water used to top up your pool to
balance the loss through evaporation. Plants and/or filter
systems will be implemented according to the findings of these
tests.
Each pool
has a specific water flow rate requirement and means of water
circulation, influenced by the amount of planting and technology
used.
The
micro-biological filters used by gartenART are powered by a
submerged low voltage pump which needs no separate housing or
maintenance.
In addition
a skimmer or skimmer pool powered by a small pump is used to
collect surface leaves and debris.
Natural
swimming pools have almost all the benefits of conventional
pools, with many additional advantages: lower running costs,
less water consumption, environmentally friendly, healthier,
attractive all year round, safe and educational for children
when combined with habitats, and are uniquely designed to suit
your garden and your tastes. |
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