Nancy, we don't usually discuss swimming pools and don't reccommend using a pond as a pool. It isn't healthy. Sandy

I agree. Swimming in a fish pond or water garden can lead to some pretty serious health problems, especially if pond water gets in eyes, ears or open sores. Swimming pools need to be chemically treated to kill harmful bacteria.

Not to mention I'm not fond of leeches! :-D I tell you, finding the leeches in the filter is what finally deterred my bullheaded seven year old from trying to "accidentally on purpose" fall into the pond.

Perhaps Nancy was thinking we could use the info to remove algea and/or some bacteria? I think I'll be having a look there anyway, just to see if there might be something I am not yet arware of to help me with algea control or bacteria that could create stagnat pockets on the bottom of the pond. I'm not sure I'll find anything I can use personally, but it's worth a browsing!

Ignore them Sandy. They are the people that the article talked about. You can talk about swimming pools if you want to. There is nothing in the forum rules forbidding it. And they obviously know a whole lot more than the people who wrote the article.

There are lots of articles about natural swimming pools and quite a few people getting into the business.

There are also quite a few people who have an inate fear of swimming in anything that doesn't have chlorine in it. I know lots of people who have swum in lakes, streams, farm ponds, reservoirs, water-towers, oceans, creeks, cenotes, sink-holes and other natural bodies of water for many, many years with absolutely NO HEALTH PROBLEMS!!.

I've also known many, many people who have gone to school without being shot at.

These TERRIBLE health problems cause by swimming in naturally occurring bodies of water do happen...almost as often as gunmen take over a public school.

So post on. It was an interesting article even if it caused fear in a few.

"I know lots of people who have swum in lakes, streams, farm ponds, reservoirs, water-towers, oceans, creeks, cenotes, sink-holes and other natural bodies of water for many, many years "

The difference between all of those bodies of water and a liner pond is a huge one. In all those natural bodies of water, there is a constant exchange of water. Old water out, new water in. This exchange is going on 24/7. In a liner pond, the system is closed. Bacteria (both beneficial and harmful) flourishes in bogs. That is not a rumor....it is fact.

ccoombs1.. Instead of making INFALLIBLE PRONOUNCEMENTS why don't you read up on these "swimming ponds"? You just might learn something and then will have something to bring to the conversation besides.."WARNING, DANGER, WILL ROBINSON"
And when you proclaim a FACT then you should have it backed up with REPUTABLE commentary from someone other than yourself.

Problem outbreaks in natural bodies of water are caused primarily by runoff of contaminated water getting into the body of water.

When you build a swimming pond (or any pond for that matter) you can eliminate runoff COMPLETELY by protecting your pond with a raised berm.

I don't know where this bogus idea that lined ponds cause bad water came from...but it is bogus. Natural bodies of water are much more susceptable to contamination from runoff, animal infestation and the real biggie: GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION seeping up through the soil.

So read up on the subject and learn a few facts instead of perpetuating rumors.

And I'm not going to provide you with any links. Finding the information by yourself is a great part of the learning process.

Here you go Nancy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Natural swimming pool

natteringninny .....so I can't make "infallible pronouncements" but you can? Seems like we have a difference of opinion here. I am a certified Koi Health Advisor. I know what sort of bacteria live ponds, and how those bacterias can affect humans. You think it's fine and dandy to swim in them, then go ahead! And I'm not going to provide you with any links either. Finding the information by yourself is a great part of the learning process.

One of the reasons I stopped frequenting this forum with any regularity was because of all the strongly entrenched wives tales.

Swimming pool ponds has been discussed many times here and many people have chlorine free pool/ponds that they regularly swim in. Yes there is a risk that you might pick up some sort of harmful bug in a pond, especially if you have a dirty pond and a weak immune system, but there is also a risk you could pick up something in a natural body of water or the dirt in your back yard, or for that mater many people have picked up contagions in crowded chlorinated public swimming pools.
Nothing in this world is completely safe, the only thing you can be positively sure of is that if you go swimming in your pond without waiting 60 minutes after eating, you will get a cramp and drown.

Mucky ;)