by Kevan and Karen Zunckel
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NATURAL POOLS: How to Retrofit your Conventional Swimming Pool
First published 2015 Release date: July 2015
Distributed by: KwaZulu Natal Midlands Sustainability Forum If you’d like to know more about the KwaZulu Natal Midlands Sustainability Forum, please go to our About Page. You may want to subscribe to our Blog, Verdant Life, – we welcome interaction and constructive debate. Please also feel free to add sites or events to the KwaZulu Natal Midlands Green Map. Send your green-living questions to the Green Guru and he’ll do his best to answer. Please follow our social media sites
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Disclaimer Notice Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this informational eBook. The information that has been provided has been compiled from the Authors’ own experience and other referenced sources, which they consider as reliable and accurate to the best of their knowledge. The Authors and Distributor are not responsible or liable for any damages, losses, or costs arising out of the implementation of any of the ideas, techniques or instructions presented in this informational eBook or on any linked site. Links to other web sites are inserted for convenience and do not constitute endorsement of material at those sites, or any associated organisation, product or service. In some cases the material may incorporate or summarise views, standards or recommendations of third parties. Such material is assembled in good faith, but does not necessarily reflect the considered views of the Authors, or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action. The Authors reserve the right to change, update or remove any page / information they deem necessary in future revisions for any reason without prior notice. This informational eBook is not a substitute for independent professional advice and users should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances. It is recommended that users should verify all information provided on your own before undertaking any reliance. Rather use a National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI) -registered contractor to build your swimming pool if you have any reservations about retrofitting your swimming pool yourself. If you do not agree with any of the Authors’ disclaimers above please do not read the eBook further.
Copyright Notice © Karen and Kevan Zunckel All rights reserved. Neither this electronic book nor any part may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, microfilming, recording, distribution by internet or email or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the Authors, Karen and Kevan Zunckel. Any attempt to do so will result in legal action. Cover design: © Karen Zunckel | Pictures: © Kevan & Karen Zunckel (unless otherwise stated)
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by Kevan and Karen Zunckel
NATURAL POOLS: How to Retrofit your Conventional Swimming Pool
by Kevan and Karen Zunckel
Foreword Kevan and Karen Zunckel are real people. This quiet, unassuming couple are genuinely concerned for the future of South Africa and its fragile environment. It has been my privilege to have worked with them on a number of public benefit projects over the past decade. Their names crop up often in wide ranging conversations, and always with respect. They have been at the forefront or in the wings of many projects, from the inception of Pietermaritzburg’s Sustainable Living and Indigenous Plant Fair, the Founders of the KwaZulu Natal Midlands Green Map, to the real and present danger of fracking in South Africa and KZN. They can always be relied on to lend their extensive knowledge and enthusiasm to relevant pressing issues facing this generation as we grapple our way out of a Fossil Fuel economy. Whilst most people talk about recycling, growing your kitchen garden, going off grid, becoming water independent, living the future green life, this humble partnership have been actively converting their lives, their working environment and their home. Not many of the vocal casual and professional environmentalists from the many, many organisations in the KZN Midlands and its hinterland have done as much as this family from Hilton, Umgeni, KwaZulu Natal. So it came as no surprise, when, nearly year ago, I popped in for yet another community activism meeting, that the process of converting their pool to a natural pool had begun. No fanfare, no fuss, just doing it. As I often quote to those non-believers, including the myriad swimming pool builders or current owners of chemically treated pools… “Those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those who are doing it!” Kevan and Karen are not swimming pool experts, but they are respected experts in ecological systems, wetlands, sustainable landscapes and our indigenous flora and fauna. And they are real people, living real lives, in a real home, without the massive resources of the “rich and famous” that we see on Discovery Channel or in these impossibly beautiful homes in exotic locations around the world! Their conversion of a basic pool is inspiring, practical, honest and just plain useful. In typical fashion, they provide a well-researched, thoughtful and easy to follow, step by step process to self-build your own natural pool. And finally, something useful for South African conditions! The daunting (and expensive) task (if you speak to traditional swimming pool “experts”) is simplified. This guide gives you everything you need to know to convert your own pool and therefore, annoyingly, removes any excuses we have! I expect this eBook to make a significant impact in thinking of our family and environmental health, and awareness of our surroundings. I expect this transition to grow from household to household. I expect this to be part of our future transitions’ move toward a greener, more sustainable and aware lifestyle. The Zunckels’ (“Whose uncle?” my kids always ask with a smile) pool provides a talking point, an entry into discussions we all need to be having. We face an uncertain energy and water future. As respected environmental scientists, they have consistently proved their integrity by “walking the talk”. Kevan and Karen have given us a window into the future. And they have done so in their typical, no nonsense , and humble fashion. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. We look forward to the next instalments!
Francois du Toit CEO, African Conservation Trust
NATURAL POOLS: How to Retrofit your Conventional Swimming Pool
Table of Contents FOREWORD CHAPTER 1
WHY NATURAL POOLS?
CHAPTER 2
GETTING STARTED
1 SCOPE AND PURPOSE 2 KEY PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL POOL DESIGN Type 1: The Maverick Type 2: The Gardener Type 3: The Diplomat Type 4: The Initiator Type 5: The Modernist Summary 3 UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE BEHIND NATURAL WATER PURIFICATION Impurities The Importance of Wetlands Soil particles remove large pieces of organic matter Living organism uptake of nutrients Water Feature 4 LEGALITIES Planning Approvals and Plans Mining Permits Invasive Alien Species Collection of Indigenous Animals and Plants Provincial Conservation Legislation Wetland Conservation CHAPTER 3
ECO-DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING
CHAPTER 4
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
1 WATERPROOFING Bentonite Clay EPDM Liner SOIL TESTING 2 SAND AND STONE 3 GEOTEXTILE 4 PIPEWORK 5 SOLAR PUMP 6 FILTRATION 7 AERATORS 8 CLEANING EQUIPMENT Automatic Pool Cleaners Skimmers CHAPTER 5
CONSTRUCTION
1 LABOUR 2 MAPPING OUT THE DESIGN 3 EXCAVATION
by Kevan and Karen Zunckel
4 5 6 7
FINISH THE EDGES OF YOUR POOL CONSTRUCTION OF THE WATER FEATURE LAYING THE WATERPROOF LINER CONNECTING THE PIPEWORK
CHAPTER 6
WETLAND PLANTS
1 PREPARING YOUR WETLAND FOR PLANTING 2 SELECTING PLANTS FOR YOUR REGENERATION ZONE 3 THE WETLAND / GARDEN INTERFACE CHAPTER 7
OPERATION, CARE AND MAINTENANCE
1 SWITCHING OVER 2 BACTERIAL BALANCE | HOW TO CONTROL ALGAE IN YOUR NATURAL POOL 3 NATURAL POOL MAINTENANCE Plant Debris Thinning and Dividing Aquatic Plants Remove sediment from the sides and bottom of the pool Maintain a Constant Water Level Test your Water Quality if you’re concerned about it Check the Mechanics Filtration CHAPTER 8
WHAT FAUNA ARE YOU LIKELY TO ATTRACT IN SOUTH AFRICA
CHAPTER 9
LESSONS LEARNED
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
ECONOMICS ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE? TIMING HAVING SUFFICIENT PLANTS U PFRONT BENEFITS OF A SUBMERGED SWIMMING ZONE MAXIMISING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE WETLAND LEAKS CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
NATURAL POOL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS
NATURAL POOL AND ECO-DESIGN SPECIALISTS LINERS PUMPS AND SKIMMERS FILTRATION AERATION POOL CARE AND MAINTENANCE CLEANING WATER QUALITY TESTING
CHAPTER 11
REFERENCES
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
NATURAL POOLS: How to Retrofit your Conventional Swimming Pool
Natural Swimming Pool in the town of Retz, Austria Š K Zunckel
by Kevan and Karen Zunckel
Chapter 1 Why Natural Pools? “To me there’s nothing more enticing than an image of a natural pool, of immersing oneself in the beauty and tranquillity of energy infused, life sustaining water. To consider that one can have this at home, or even the public swimming baths, is even more appealing.” Natural pools use no harmful chemicals, are fairly low-tech and once established call for only a modicum of management. Except for the occasional top-up with rainwater harvested off your roof, you'll fill the pool only once. Natural pools use gravel stone, river sand and clay or rubber liners in place of concrete or fiberglass. Aquatic plants replace conventional complicated mechanical filtering systems. Water is circulated through a living ecosystem of rocks and indigenous water plants which enrich the pool with oxygen and support micro-organisms that clean and filter the water, consuming debris and reducing the nutrients available for algae and bad bacteria to develop. The mini ecosystem gives habitat to frogs, dragonflies and other water life. The result is a beautiful, ecologically diverse system that is relatively inexpensive to construct. Natural pools are an attractive alternative to traditional chlorine or salt pools which are becoming increasingly unpopular because of the strong odour of chlorine which reddens eyes, causes allergic reactions in some swimmers, and is a known carcinogen – meaning it has been linked to cancer! This does not mean that you need to swim through a tangle of pond weed and murky water, always concerned what’s lurking below, with mud squishing between your toes if you dare to put your feet down and leeches attaching themselves to you. Though to some this ‘grounding’ is considered healing while to others, it may be just
~Kar
NATURAL POOLS: How to Retrofit your Conventional Swimming Pool
too radical. No, the swimming zone is usually separated from the wetland area, known as the regeneration zone, by a low inner wall over which the filtered sparkling clean water flows. So although it looks contiguous, the areas are quite distinct in space and function. The regeneration zone should be at least 75% the size of the swimming zone’s surface area to function effectively. More and more people are concerned these days with the harmful effects that chemicals have on their health and are trying to live a more natural lifestyle by eating organic whole food, using alternative medicine, doing their bit to protect the planet, etc. It makes perfect sense, therefore, to avoid swimming in a sterile pool containing chemicals which have an adverse effect on your health, both internally and externally, and where the water is effectively poisoned to death. There are more gently ways of sanitising (killing bacteria and germs), oxidising (controlling organic debris from perspiration and body oils) and deterring algae. Once the biological balance has been achieved, natural pools are low maintenance and cost effective. A natural pool can be built more economically than a conventional pool and its maintenance will cost considerably less. A conventional pool can be converted to a natural pool for less than $2,000 if you do it yourself. There are real savings to be had on equipment and creating a self-cleaning water system that doesn’t need any chemicals and poses no risk to watercourses or the atmosphere. Natural pools are also usually warmer because of the shallow wetland area, extending your swimming season. These pools inevitably benefit local wildlife by becoming an oasis in a space that was previously hostile to them and you can enjoy the year-round presence of colourful damselflies dipping over the water, dragonfly nymphs darting for cover, watch the spiders at eye-level building shimmering webs between the plants, and appreciate the snails that clean up the algae. And the ecosystem will balance itself out so you won’t have a proliferation of mosquitoes or plagues of noisy frogs descending upon your quiet neighbourhood. As clean water becomes more and more scarce and unreliable, your natural pool can also act as an emergency water reservoir. The water is so clean, you could drink it! As Michael Littlewood, who has been applying his eco-design philosophy and introducing natural swimming pools to the United Kingdom since 1999, writes, Fairly common in Europe, natural “There are no hard transitions in nature, just as there are no exact pools are in their infancy in South edges and lines. Structures flow gently into one another, only we Africa, and the southern hemisphere humans create harsh boundaries. The natural swimming pool realises for that matter. Our climatic the principle of harmonious co-existence as demonstrated by nature.” conditions are very different; our summers are hot and winters are mild in comparison to northern hemisphere conditions, and this can present very different challenges to the care and maintenance of a natural pool, especially in its establishment phase. You’ll be hard pressed to find a swimming pool contractor who knows what a natural pool is, never mind one willing to build one in South Africa. There are also very few specialist eco-pool contractors locally in the know. By contrast, there are a growing number of homeowners keen to learn how to build pools without relying on a mass of manufactured materials and chemical additives. They're finding out that it is possible to build pools that are more about building with nature (using biomimicry principles) and one that blends into the natural landscape. The good news is that if you already have a conventional pool, it is quite easy to convert it into a natural pool, or you can install one from scratch. There are specialists who can do this for you or you can quite feasibly do it yourself.
by Kevan and Karen Zunckel
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NATURAL POOLS: How to Retrofit your Conventional Swimming Pool
About the Authors Kevan and Karen Zunckel are ecologists (wetland and biodiversity), environmentalists and sustainability consultants working from their suburban home in Hilton, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Their journey to sustainability started in the garden twelve years ago. It was a typical ‘English Country Garden’. There was a solid hedge of Azaleas infested with Jasmine, garden beds dominated by Shasta Daisies, Lambs Ear, Roses and Hydrangeas. The fence lines with their neighbours were a mess with all sorts of invasive plants. They set about transforming their boundaries with indigenous trees and shrubs and set about transforming their garden with Midlands Mistbelt grasses and flowering plants, a vegetation type that is critically endangered and native to the area. They have also slowly integrated sustainability measures to their home and way of life. They are off-grid, harvesting rain water off their roof, recycling their greywater to water their food gardens, and generating all of their power needs when the sun shines through a grid-tie solar photovoltaic system, with minimal battery backup for power failures. And most sunny days the supper is slow-cooking in the SunStove while water is boiling on the parabolic stove. They are progressively replacing their thirsty lawn with an indigenous grassland that saves time and energy, requiring less mowing. Their bees benefit hugely from this diversity of pollen and nectar, and the all-year flowering means that they have to travel less distance for their food. This improves honey production. The Zunckels always wanted to put in a natural pool but decided against it when their second child was a baby because they would not have been able to put a safety net over the pool extending over the water plants as well. They opted for a salt water pool instead. Now that their children are able to swim, they took the plunge and did the conversion themselves. So many people who’ve seen their natural pool have asked them to share how they did it, hence this user manual. They bring to the project a scientific understanding of the functioning of a wetland and eco-design aspects of a project of this nature, and a passion for creating wildlife habitat in their garden. Theirs’s is not a formal garden; they try to replicate nature in all of its curves and intricacies. Work on the Zunckel home is all a work in progress, a labour of love and one that they hope will continue to attract wildlife, feed and sustain them and make them resilient to ecological shocks. It keeps them busy but also brings them much joy.
by Kevan and Karen Zunckel
Inspired by the idyllic pictures of natural pools around the world, Kevan and Karen Zunckel have converted their swimming pool in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The study of natural pools is a relatively new science with a bias towards European conditions and the little knowledge available is kept under proprietary information. They have developed this “Natural Pools | How to Retrofit your Conventional Swimming Pool” informational eBook as guide for others who might like to follow suit and it is their hope that it goes some way towards bridging this information divide. They take the reader through the project step-by-step, discussing how to design the regeneration zone around the swimming area, including a rock cascade or waterfall for various natural pools system types; fit the rubber liner; plant the edges with indigenous water plants; and the pumping options to circulate the water through the plants that filter and clean the water. Some of the interesting water creatures that are attracted to these man-made water bodies are also included. There is a ‘go to’ section with suppliers advertising their services and products. The Zunckels bring to the project a scientific understanding of the functioning of a wetland and eco-design aspects of a project of this nature, and a passion for creating wildlife habitat in their garden. It is a brutally honest précis of their experience and they share some of the lessons they learnt along the way. This is a well-researched, thoughtful and easy to follow, step by step process to self-build your own natural pool. And finally, something useful for South African conditions!
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