Swimming pool or swimming pond: advantages, disadvantages + costs
Those who have their own garden can count themselves lucky because of the many sporting and recreational opportunities. For many, a water section is the perfect completion of this “green area”, especially if they can also swim around in it.
A “traditional” swimming pool is obvious, but swimming ponds are also popular. What are the differences between these two concepts, what costs and conditions do you have to count on? This article explores this question with you.
Swimming pool, swimming pond & co. - what are we talking about?
In addition to the classic swimming pool, those who want to bring their garden to life quickly come across concepts such as swimming pond, bio pool and hybrid swimming pool. The terms are very similar and are sometimes used differently or interchangeably. Quite confusing, so let's first be clear about what this article is or isn't about.
Swimming pool: In this article, by a swimming pool, we mean a basin (made of any material) where you can also swim for a round, and that will be kept clean by (among others) a combination of a skimmer, one or more (sand) filters and chemicals like chlorine.
Swimming pond: You can also swim around in a swimming pond.
In contrast to a “traditional” pool, the water in a swimming pond becomes naturally filtered through (swamp)plants. Bacteria nest in their roots that purify the water; end products of this purification process are in turn absorbed by the plants as “fertilizer”. Because of the type of plants that are used, such a filter is also called helophyte filter.
A swimming pond always consists of a swimming area and a filter section where the filter plants grow. For sufficient filtration, the surface of the filter area min. 1/3 of the swimming area to be.
Bio swimming pool: A bio pool (sometimes also a biological pool, natural pool or natural pool) purifies the bathing water solely thru hydrolysis. Hydrolysis splits water molecules to produce free radicals. The free radicals disinfect within seconds and then fall back into water.
Hybrid swimming pool: In this case, “Hybrid” means working with a helophyte filter in combination with hydrolysis. Outside the swimming season, you can enjoy the beautiful sides of a (swimming) pond, during the swimming season you (mainly) use hydrolysis and you can avoid or reduce some negative aspects of a swimming pond.
Natural and hybrid pools are quite rare at the moment. In this blog, we therefore compare outdoor pools and swimming ponds.
Swimming pool vs. swimming pond: the similarities
Both the swimming pond and the swimming pool are meant for swimming. So in both cases, you have plenty of space necessary to move: a minimum depth of around 1.30 m, a length of at least 8 m and a width of at least 2 m.
Qua shape you can now go in any direction. Classic pools are rectangular, sometimes round, and covers and other accessories orient themselves to standard shapes and dimensions, but customization is certainly possible (if you have sufficient budget).
Swimming ponds have developed just the other way around. In addition to traditional, “organic” shapes, you can now also find tighter-looking, rectangular swimming ponds.
To keep the bathing water clean, you need filtration needed. A sand filter is standard for a swimming pool, but they also provide additional filtration in some swimming ponds. In addition, the water must circulate adequately; in either case, this will not work without a pump.
In addition, you must also keep the water mechanically clean and, for example, leaves and twigs with the help of a landing net delete.
The chemical balance of the bathing water must also be in order. Among other things, you should: pH value and water hardness to keep an eye on.
In any case, you also get with algae growth to make, you can do this chemically combat/minimize — owners of swimming ponds usually do not do this — but also mechanically, e.g. with a Hoover.
Overview of swimming pool vs. swimming pond
Let's now look at the central differences between swimming pool and swimming pond in a brief summary.
Basics: How, what and where do you install?
Nature factor: What role does nature (experience) play?
Water treatment: What's involved?
Maintenance: What do you need to consider?
Which is cheaper? Swimming pool or swimming pond
The costs for construction and maintenance are very dependent on the circumstances and are therefore difficult to determine. So here we are talking about guideline values based on frequently made choices.
Predisposition
At a swimming pond you should at least dig a hole. The size, the construction materials and how much work you take over yourself largely determine the costs. Including plants, will you end up somewhere? between 150€ and 500€ per m2.
In the poolthere are big price differences in the world. With an above ground pool, you save excavation activities, well is there sometimes one foundation necessary. A swimming pool installed underground also often requires a foundation.
Furthermore, the materials and the do-it-yourself factor determine the price. A real basic model, prefab, above ground costs a few hundred euros. If you want more quality and can't or don't want to do everything on your own, you're fast 10,000€ or more lost, just for material, digging and installation.
In practice, swimming ponds and swimming pools (of comparable quality & size) about the same price.
Maintenance
Swimming ponds are proportionate low-maintenance. You can easily do most of the maintenance yourself. Landing nets and test strips for water values are fairly cheap and easy to obtain.
How much time, energy and money do you put into maintaining your pool must invest, depends, among other things, on the size. The more water in your pool, the more water you need to heat, filter and disinfect.
Or in other words: with a energy-efficient, compact swimming pool (like our Intelligent Pool) there is a lot of costs and time to save. Read our blog to get an idea of the average heating costs and discover the difference between a “traditional” pool and the Intelligent Pool!
You can also automate some measures, although this type of convenience naturally comes at a price, especially when purchasing.
Swimming pool or swimming pond: which type do you go for?
Nature is central to a swimming pond: mostly organic forms, natural filtration, as few (chemical) interventions as possible. Because of the filter zone, the swimming pond needs a larger area, but you also get a bit of “extra nature” in return.
In a swimming pool, you have more options to automate. This allows you to partially compensate for maintenance. A swimming pool also usually looks tighter than a swimming pond and is another type of eye-catcher. And it's easier to heat a pool and thus extend the swimming season.
Ultimately, choosing between a swimming pond and a swimming pool is a matter of personal preference. Some people really hate disinfectants such as chlorine, others are afraid of fish, frogs and other animals in bathing water.
A compact swimming pool saves money, energy and time, especially when it comes to maintenance. With a state-of-the-art counter-current system, you can swim excellently in such a compact swimming pool. Swimm's Intelligent Pools offer this perfect combination and are therefore among the most sustainable, greenest options in the pool world. Although we strongly recommend not planting our Intelligent Pools 😉
Dive into the world of Swimm and discover the difference!
