23 Breathtaking Natural Swimming Pools

When managed properly, natural swimming pools have crystal-clear water and require no chemicals to maintain because 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.

The materials and designs of natural pools can vary widely. Many are lined with rubber or reinforced polyethylene. In most popular models, such as those offered by Kansas-based Total Habitat, the swimming area is separated from a zone planted with aquatic vegetation, which acts as a biological filter. A small waterfall can add ambiance as well as valuable aeration. A skimmer may be used to collect large debris. Total Habitat typically adds a UV sterilizer to assure any germs are killed.

"Conventional pools that use ozone or chlorine are upsetting a natural balance. In fact, it's hard to keep a chlorinated pool biologically dead because nature gets in there," says Morgan Brown of Whole Water Systems, LLC. "With natural pools, the living system takes care of itself."

According to Brown, people always ask the health question first. He says people just need to think about pools a little differently. "Instead of creating an abhorrence of nature where everything is dead, it's creating natural healthy water that takes care of itself," says Brown.

Brown believes properly designed natural pools provide virtually no risk of dangerous contamination, provided they are used reasonably, and not constantly stuffed to capacity with bathers. He says most health departments don't have any regulations on residential pools, so consumers have little worry about breaking any local codes. However, that's not necessarily the case with public pools, which often do have strict requirements.

Brown says he first experienced natural swimming pools when he was living in Germany. In Munich, a large public natural pool was his daily haunt, and it has safely supported sizable crowds for years. "Natural pools evolved from ponds that people swim in," he explains. "People started gradually making them better for swimming, and fixing problems with water. Europeans have decades worth of experience."

Whole Water Systems works with technology from the European firm BioNova (designs pictured), which also supplies many natural pools on the other side of the Atlantic.

The possibilities for natural pool designs are nearly limitless, from traditional looks to serene settings that closely resemble wild ponds.

Taking up the natural pools banner in California is Vista-based Expanding Horizons, which has been designing and installing water features, gardens and other projects since 1978.

The approach of Expanding Horizons founder Bryan Morse is to construct what he calls a "hybrid pool," which incorporates technology commonly found in conventional pools such as pool cleaners, surface skimmers, and main drains. The designs often include beach entries, and water plants are seeded into the nooks and crannies between the perimeter boulders to enhance the natural experience.

Based in Bristol in the United Kingdom, Clear Water Revival makes some of the most appealing, sparkling, drool-worthy natural pools anywhere. The company's goal is to bring back an essence of Victorian England, with modern understanding of science and ecology. The gorgeous pools can even replace some of the ecological functions lost with the vast destruction of wetlands, particularly in the form of habitat for plants.

Clear Water Revival tends to focus its natural pool designs around maximizing biodiversity and the educational value of the space, creating a very natural look and feel. There are a number of options offered, from simple clay linings to more advanced systems. Customers can even order DIY kits.

Clear Water Revival works with a network of partners across the UK, and also offers renewable energy systems for pool heating and homes. The company has partnered with the Aqua Viva group of Austria and Germany in many of its pool designs, allowing for high efficiency systems. Affected pools can function well with fewer plants and only 20% of the area taken up by the regeneration zone (50% is more common).

Aqua Viva systems have long-term filtration, with little maintenance needed, a unique substrate for plants and several advanced pumps and skimmers. The result is a lot of clean, healthy pool in a small space, if needed.

Another British leader is gartenART, which boasts innovative, beautiful natural swimming pools.

Have your own unique design built, or convert your conventional swimming pool to a natural one, keeping the original swimming area (or altering it if you wish). You just need to add a shallow plant area around it to enable natural purification. Another option is to keep the existing structure of the swimming pool and create the two areas inside that, giving you more flexibility.

gartenART Director Tim Evans explains that the company's international design and consultancy service does a good business with English ex-pats abroad, including in France, Italy, Spain, Greece, the Carribean, and elsewhere. "We have had a lot of interest but not much actual business from the U.S. so far," says Evans. "We consistently get more website hits and email enquiries from the U.S. than from any country except the UK, but this has not yet translated into real action."

Believe it or not, this refreshing oasis is actually in London. gartenART installed this gorgeous, Asian-theme inspired water feature in the suburb of Mill Hill.

Prefer a rustic look? gartenART designers installed this cool pool in Herts in the UK in 2007. Don't you want to dip your toes in?

Will Woodhouse of UK-based Woodhouse Natural Pools has been developing and building natural swimming pools since 2000. Woodhouse has partnered with Austria's Biotop Natural Pool, which is one of the industry's original pioneers.

Woodhouse points out that, besides being beautiful, his natural pools naturally warm up fast and efficiently in the sun, meaning they don't cost a fortune to heat (like many conventional pools). Woodhouse also touts the "softness" of the water, which he promotes as being especially gentle on skin and hair.

Woodhouse Natural Pools offers a range of exciting options, from ultra-contemporary designs to features that integrate seamlessly into gardens or the surrounding landscape.

Lounging by the side of a natural pool can be a whole different experience than visiting a conventional chlorine pool.

A natural pool seems to harmonize with this picturesque mountain landscape much more than a shockingly blue artificial pool ever could.