{"id":4027,"date":"2014-09-05T09:00:59","date_gmt":"2014-09-05T07:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.italygreentravel.com\/?p=4027"},"modified":"2024-12-10T17:44:04","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T16:44:04","slug":"natural-pool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2014\/09\/natural-pool\/","title":{"rendered":"Diving in a Natural Pool in Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the hot summer days there’s nothing better (if you can\u2019t go to the beach) than a refreshing dip in the pool<\/strong>. However, leaving aside the mere refreshing appearance there are different kinds of pool: those designed in the common sense are pools constructed in concrete and purified by chlorine and chemicals, but during the last years in Italy has caught on the bio-pool<\/strong>, a natural alternative useful both to people and to the environment.<\/p>\n

Bioponds and Biopools<\/h2>\n

Starting from the artificial lakes created exclusively for the aesthetics of mansions and gardens, a new tendency has developed: build bioponds (or ecoponds), still conceived by man, but reproducing the natural characteristics of a lake and forming a real own self-sustaining ecosystem, providing a better visual impact and offering the possibility of bathing in waters completely naturally purified.<\/p>\n

The official and international definition of biopool goes like this: a biopool is a body of water sealed to the ground and not chemically disinfected, built for bathing. The constant quality of bathing water is guaranteed through a biological and \/ or mechanical treatment.<\/p>\n

Therefore a biopool is nothing but a biopond, with the only difference of a more refined design and targeted to the comfort for bathing. It is in any case a mirror of water created by men reproducing all the natural characteristics of purification of a natural lake. But if it is a closed circuit, how can they have clean water without using any chemical agent?<\/p>\n

\"bioponds<\/a>
Phytopurification in bioponds<\/div><\/div>\n

Phytopurification in a natural pool<\/h2>\n

The main system on which are based bioponds and biopools is that of phytopurification, 100% green<\/strong> and much less wasteful of physical-chemical treatments. In fact water purification is carried out due to biological reactions of aquatic plants and zooplankton that filter impurities and feed on pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in a continuous process of self-healing. However, there might be a system of filters and pumps purely mechanical, which doesn\u2019t consider the use of chemicals or UV.<\/p>\n

The useful plants that purify water also play a great aesthetic effect, because in addition to submerged plants that produce oxygen, there are often plants on the surface, such as beautiful water lilies and reeds. This vegetation around the water shapes in a short time an ecosystem perfectly balanced and integrated in nature.<\/p>\n

The effectiveness of phytopurification was also demonstrated by a study at the University of Siena, by entering into a biopond various pathogens in liquid solution: immediately after entering them, the charge of bacteria was very high, while the sample taken 24 hours late showed a significant reduction, which was almost completely eradicated after 90 hours. The experiment has been done in the autumn time, when the activity of phytopurification is reduced.<\/p>\n

\"biopond<\/a>
Biopond in Parco dei Cimini, Viterbo, Italy<\/div><\/div>\n

How is made a natural pool<\/h2>\n

There are different kinds of biopools, depending on the area dedicated to purification and to bathing, and especially the presence or not of mechanical installations. All, however, provide for the passage of water through different modules:<\/p>\n

\u2022 The source pond, whit a first coarse filtration by passing through gravel;<\/p>\n

\u2022 The stream contributes to oxygenation, moving the water to the regeneration zone;<\/p>\n

\u2022 The regeneration zone is where the plants are placed, and is separated from the underwater bathing area through a perimeter in masonry or ground, while on the surface by floating markers. Usually it doesn\u2019t exceed 1 meter in depth, providing a fast heating of water;<\/p>\n

\u2022 The swimming area is devoid of plants, which are all around, and has clear and purified water. In bi-room systems the two areas (regeneration and bathing) are completely separate.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The mechanic pumping system finally re-inject water from the bathing area to the source pond, starting the cycle of purification.<\/p>\n

A natural biopool doesn\u2019thave any type of pumping and an equal surface between regeneration and bathing area, while the other bio-pools are divided into low, medium, high or very high technology, with photovoltaic systems providing sustainable energy for the actuation of pumps and filters. Of course a more efficient pumping means a smaller area reserved to phytopurification.<\/p>\n

\"biopools<\/a><\/p>\n

The benefits of a\u00a0natural pool<\/h2>\n

A biopool or a biopond guarantee the same comfort of a traditional swimming pool in addition to various benefits for health and the environment, and why not, even for wallets.<\/p>\n

First, phytopurification method is all-natural and allows to clean water avoiding the use of chlorine, chemicals and PH regulators, often cause of dermatitis, allergies, dryness of skin and eye irritation.<\/p>\n

Environmentally, biopools and bioponds represent a real natural ecosystem, that enrich biodiversity and achievable even in areas subject to environmental constraints, allows maximum customization in design, aesthetics and choice of vegetation and is feasible even on sloping land, and then doesn\u2019t require any connection to the sewer.<\/p>\n

Finally, the maintenance of a biopool costs only one third of those of a traditional swimming pool because it has a minimum consumption of water (you only lose that which evaporates naturally), saving on the costs of chemicals, and the energy for the pumping system derives from a photovoltaic system.<\/p>\n

Bearing in mind that a lake or a pool full of natural vegetation in winter is also a great decorative an more impressive item you can enjoy, instead of a sad ground cloth to cover!<\/p>\n

\"Bio-pool<\/a><\/p>\n

Natural Pools in Italy<\/h2>\n

On the Italian territory there are only 9 public biopools, mapped by Associazione Italiana Acque Balneari Naturali<\/a>, but there are many hotels, especially cottages, which have a biopond or a biopool to encourage integration between wellness and contact with nature.<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly accommodation facilities with natural pools in Italy<\/h2>\n

Between the green and the blue of Tuscany<\/h3>\n\n\t\t