Building a natural pool
• Always use a professional to build a pool like this. Building a structure that holds thousands of litres of water can be dangerous if it isn’t correctly positioned or constructed. Professional advice will also ensure that no costly mistakes are made.
• When you first fill the pool, add water from a mature pond or natural pool (or purchase a pond bacteria product) to introduce the microbiology necessary to begin the food cycle.
• If you live near a natural freshwater ecosystem (along the banks of a river or wetland), choose plants carefully. If necessary, consult a professional.
• In places like McGregor where summers can be extremely hot, build a structure such as a pergola to provide shade and cool the water surface.
ESSENTIAL PLANTS
For a ‘wetland’ filter to function efficiently, it needs different types of plants. “There are more than 30 different species in this pool, some indigenous and some foreign, including a few edibles such as mint, lemongrass and ginger,” explains Lyle. “The greater the diversity of plants, the better. However, if you include non-indigenous plants, make sure they are not invasive.” These are some of the plants that Lyle included:
Plants rooted in water Arum lily (Zantedeschia sp.),
bulrush (Typha capensis), soft rush (Juncus effusus) and umbrella papyrus (Cyperus alternifolius subsp. flabelliformis) Oxygenating plants Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) and eel grass (Vallisneria spiralis) Plants with floating leaves Water lilies (Nymphaea sp.)