FAQ: Can you Convert an Existing Pond into A Natural Swimming Pool?
Yes, you can convert an existing pond into a Natural Swimming Pool/Pond, though the process is expensive (typically costs more than building a NSP from scratch) and must be done on a custom basis.
Often, people think that because the existing pond is already there onsite and filled with water, it must be more cost effective to clean it up than to create a new Natural Swimming Pool/Pond: After all, the hole is already dug, it is already filled with water and plants and nature, it may even have a dock or pier.. Unfortunately, there is one very big difference between the typical farm pond and a NSP: A farm pond is created to collect water that has drained from other places onsite (or that has welled up from the ground), while a Natural Swimming Pool/Pond has a controlled water source (typically well or city water-- like what you would use to fill any kind of pool) and is designed to filter the same water over and over again. Though there are ways you can capture and filter site drainage water as it flows down to a lower pool/pond, these systems can be quite complex and must be designed on a custom basis; so whenever possible, it is best to choose a high spot onsite for your NSP, rather than down in a depression (like where farm ponds are typically placed).
The Process: A full pond to NSP conversion starts with draining the existing pond, dewatering and scooping out excess muck and mud, reshaping the hole (if needed), re-routing site drainage away from the pond, and installing a water-tight liner. Then, plumbing equipment and other materials are brought in to create a biological filtration and water circulation system (typically built into the pond itself) as well as other NSP features like a dock or pier, pebble beach, water slide, jumping boulders, poolside patio or structure, waterfall or bubbler, zip-line, rope swing, etc.
If a full conversion is not possible, you can instead clean up an existing farm pond in order to make it more attractive and/or safer for recreational use. When approaching a pond cleanup, you must first answer the question how clean is clean to you? Depending on just how clean you want the pond to end up being, the restoration effort might include; adding in plumbing equipment to enhance water circulation and filtration, scooping out mud and organic material that has collected on the bottom, lining the pond if it doesn't hold water well on its own, creating a sand or pebble beach area, and adding in a dock or pier for more easy access to the deeper swimming area.
Often, people think that because the existing pond is already there onsite and filled with water, it must be more cost effective to clean it up than to create a new Natural Swimming Pool/Pond: After all, the hole is already dug, it is already filled with water and plants and nature, it may even have a dock or pier.. Unfortunately, there is one very big difference between the typical farm pond and a NSP: A farm pond is created to collect water that has drained from other places onsite (or that has welled up from the ground), while a Natural Swimming Pool/Pond has a controlled water source (typically well or city water-- like what you would use to fill any kind of pool) and is designed to filter the same water over and over again. Though there are ways you can capture and filter site drainage water as it flows down to a lower pool/pond, these systems can be quite complex and must be designed on a custom basis; so whenever possible, it is best to choose a high spot onsite for your NSP, rather than down in a depression (like where farm ponds are typically placed).
The Process: A full pond to NSP conversion starts with draining the existing pond, dewatering and scooping out excess muck and mud, reshaping the hole (if needed), re-routing site drainage away from the pond, and installing a water-tight liner. Then, plumbing equipment and other materials are brought in to create a biological filtration and water circulation system (typically built into the pond itself) as well as other NSP features like a dock or pier, pebble beach, water slide, jumping boulders, poolside patio or structure, waterfall or bubbler, zip-line, rope swing, etc.
If a full conversion is not possible, you can instead clean up an existing farm pond in order to make it more attractive and/or safer for recreational use. When approaching a pond cleanup, you must first answer the question how clean is clean to you? Depending on just how clean you want the pond to end up being, the restoration effort might include; adding in plumbing equipment to enhance water circulation and filtration, scooping out mud and organic material that has collected on the bottom, lining the pond if it doesn't hold water well on its own, creating a sand or pebble beach area, and adding in a dock or pier for more easy access to the deeper swimming area.