Swimming can be great exercise and a lot of fun, not to mention an exciting sport at the Olympics. But the chlorine used in most pools can have some negative side effects, not the least of which is reliance on toxic (and finicky) chemicals.
Chlorine's damaging effects on hair are well known, but few people realize that a number of studies have linked inhalation of the chemical by swimmers to increased asthma rates (in fact a new Irish study published this April reported a significant link between the number of years a boy had been swimming and the likelihood of the child being wheezy in the past year.) A Norwegian study also documented an increased risk of wheezing among children who swim in pools before 6 months of age. Further, in an unpleasant reaction, pee and sweat in water can react with chlorine to form toxic breakdown products known as chloramines.
One elegant, eco-friendly solution that has had enthusiastic supporters in Europe for decades is the so-called natural swimming pool, which is slowly beginning to gain buzz in the U.S. Natural swimming pools, often called swimming ponds across the Atlantic, can be beautiful oases of greenery and sustainability, as well as safe, fun places to take a dip.
Managed properly, natural swimming pools have crystal clear water and require no chemicals to maintain, as they are self-cleaning mini-ecosystems. "You can drink the water if you want to, and you don't necessarily have to take a shower," says Morgan Brown of Idaho-based Whole Water Systems, LLC. The natural pools designer says the systems also have lower maintenance costs than conventional pools, and their installation costs are not much more than standard designs.
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/natural-swimming-pools-460908#ixzz17aLmdbyx
I think this is a great idea! The only issue I would have would be how much would it cost to install and how much work would it take to maintain. But this is such a great concept I might even use this design in our upcoming green house plan project.
ReplyDeleteI think this is really cool. Chlorine has several negative effects. I agree with Shelby and would like to kinow how much it costs.
ReplyDeletethis is extremely cool. i like the idea of having a non- chlorine pool because i personally hate chlorine. also the fact that its eco-friendly makes it something i would really like to get, but i also would like to know the price.
ReplyDeleteThe price can be whatever you want it to be. Look at the pool in the picture. It is simply a hole in the ground lined with concrete and some water grass. Hire someone to dig a hole and line it with concrete then you can fill it yourself and put your own plants in. I wouldn't buy from a retailer when I could do it myself, and for cheaper.
ReplyDeletethis seems like a great idea, but let's face it, a natural pool is going to probably need more attention and care than a typical pool, which means fewer people may be interested, but it is a very good idea, seeing as how chlorine is a very harsh chemical.
ReplyDelete