Natural pool information: costs per m², filter technology & experiences

In order to understand the price of a natural pool, it is first necessary to have a basic idea of ​​what characteristic features make up this type of pool. Because not every natural pool has to be intensively designed with plants and a naturally designed bank. Even a near-natural zone with a completely or partially natural filter system can turn an otherwise heavily prefabricated system pool into a natural pool in terms of its functionality. The essential characteristics of a natural pool are therefore:

• Water filtering in a biological way, but using technical systems
• Water disinfection without typical disinfectants such as chlorine, bromine or hydrogen peroxide
• Not mandatory, but often in combination: Presence of a near-natural filter and resting zone for the supportive settlement of cleaning aquatic plants and microorganisms

Natural pool information on filter technology

Even if the term natural pool suggests otherwise, it cannot do without filter technology. Of course, this also has an effect on the construction costs, as well as the follow-up costs that are regularly incurred later. On the other hand, the maintenance effort for a natural pool can be kept very low compared to swimming ponds by means of a functionally oriented and well-adjusted filter technology. Since these are usually dimensioned borderline small in relation to the stability of the natural filtration cycle, the actual effort to maintain the water balance and thus the function of the natural filtration is enormous.

The biological filtration of the pool water is made up of two systems that differ fundamentally in terms of their essential functionality:

1. Biological water treatment (“bio-filter”)

• usually used as a primary filter
• retains contaminants through coarse filters
• breaks down organic substances such as fat, uric acid, etc. using microorganisms
• Releases nutrients or nutrient salts (phosphates) produced by microorganisms as part of the decomposition process into the pool water

2. Physical water treatment

• Secondary filter to the primary bio-filter
• Removes phosphates from the water, thus removing the basis of life for algae, bacteria, etc.

Natural pool information on the budget

For anyone who is toying with the idea of ​​building a natural pool, the question of price will certainly arise sooner rather than later. Because not only the pool itself, but also the planning with a biological filter system makes many interested parties suspect high costs. But what are the actual costs? First of all, let’s take a look at the costs that make up the actual total cost of a natural pool:

1. Construction costs

The first priority is of course the construction of the pool. The construction costs include:

• Material costs for pool and technology
• Labor required to dig the pit, install the pool and repair any damage caused by the construction work
• Disposal of the excavated earth with removal and landfill fees
• Ancillary costs, such as planning costs and costs for building permits for the natural pool

2. Follow-up costs

Once the pool has been built, it has recurring follow-up costs:

• Maintenance and repair of the technology
• Maintenance of pools, and technical room or area
• Water/sewer charges (although ideally water swapping is infrequent)
• Operating costs, especially electricity for pump systems

Real prices for real planning

Understandably, some readers will now ask themselves how high the financial outlay actually is. Because just knowing about the different cost factors does not help to develop a solid gut feeling about the expected cost framework.

It should be said here that fixed prices for a natural pool cannot be given without further ado, which can then also be reliably used anytime and anywhere. Because both regional and seasonal price differences for the installation work, and above all the wide range of possible execution details, lead to a large diversification of the cost framework. Last but not least, even individual characteristics of the accessibility of the construction site and the existing property can produce significant differences in the framework conditions and thus also in the construction costs. Ultimately, only the material costs remain as a location-independent fixed cost item, since the prices for these do not differ from region to region due to the national or even worldwide operating suppliers.

In the following, therefore, only very rough cost frameworks are given. In addition, the expected financial outlay is set in relation to a normal, i.e. non-biologically filtering pool:

building-costs

• Excavation: including disposal approx. 20 – 25 EUR / m3 / +- 0%
• Pool with material costs and installation work: depending on size and design approx. 8,000 to 25,000 EUR / +-0%
• Filter technology: approx. EUR 2,000 – 5,000 / up to +50%
• Additional costs for planning and approval: approx. EUR 500 – 2,000 / 0 to +5%

Follow-up costs and maintenance costs

• Technical maintenance: depending on system size up to EUR 300 / year / 0 to +20%
• Maintenance of structural system: 0 – 200 EUR / year / +-0%
• Water / waste water fees: depending on pool size and intensity of use 50 to 150 EUR / year / +-0%
• Operating costs: depending on pool size and duration of use by 100 to 200 EUR / year / +-0%
• Poolchemie: 0,- EUR / -100%

Based on our natural pool information, it becomes clear that the costs for a natural pool differ only slightly to moderately compared to its counterpart with conventional water treatment. The biggest differences result from a clear plus in the purchase of the technology. The biggest minus point is the complete elimination of the pool chemicals that are eliminated by the biological filtering. The erection of the actual structural system, as well as the expected maintenance effort, does not differ or differs only marginally due to the different filter systems.

square meter costs

If you sum up the costs and allocate them to an amount per square meter of pool area, the amount for the purchase is around EUR 200 to EUR 500 per square meter. This natural pool information, which is only very vague in terms of costs, is the result of a wide variety of designs and strongly varying prices depending on the individual factors of the pool location already mentioned, as well as the general size of the facility.

experiences

You haven’t collected enough natural pool information yet? Are you still not sure whether the “Natural Pool” project can be realized in your garden and with your means? Then benefit from the experiences of other hobby gardeners and let yourself be inspired.

Ab 100€ i m²

“I did everything myself and with friends. I’m now at 8500 euros. 1500 will go on it, I think. So that’s 10,000 euros for a 100m² swimming pond. I installed a lot of granite, a large concrete manhole ring as a filter, floor drain, 2 skimmers, a few sliders, 20 tons of gravel. Nothing special stop. So you should calculate at least 100€/m². If you don’t want anything special, then it’s more like 150 to 200 euros per square meter.”

Source: https://www.hobby-gartenteich.de/xf/posts/236019/
User: Eckentaler

Doing it yourself saves money

“[…] Well, we did, or rather I (wife alone + with a little help from my over 60-year-old parents) did almost everything ourselves and the swimming pond of approx. 150m² cost around 7000 € (including really everything and we have a lot of granite and stone foil used) – it is definitely cheaper!!!! […]”

Source: https://www.hausgarten.net/gartenforum/threads/schwimmteich-vor-und-nachteile-kosten-beim-anlegen.85/post-115073
User: Andy Spiess

“My swimming pond with filter ditch has a water surface of about 120m².
Altogether with all the trimmings, the Naturagart pond cost 6000 euros.
However, I did everything myself except for the excavation work.[…]”

Source: https://www.teichbau-forum-naturagart.de/index.php/forum/22-allgemeines/1342-kosten-eines-schwimmteiche#1345
User: reinhardsiess

Claims make the price

“[…] Regarding the costs, as a company I can say that a swimming pond for €7,000 to €8,000 is definitely feasible, it really depends on the demands you place on the pond. Which does not necessarily mean that an expensive pond is a better pond.

Basically one can say:
– a lot of technology -> high costs (also in maintenance) -> less maintenance effort
– little technology -> lower costs -> more maintenance effort

The amount of maintenance required for a pond naturally depends heavily on the demands that are placed on the pond. […]”

Quelle: https://www.hausgarten.net/gartenforum/threads/schwimmteich-vor-und-nachteile-kosten-beim-anlegen.85/post-115834
Nutzer:baumundborke

Pay attention to many little things

“[…] I have a swimming pond with 38,000 liters myself. I’ll list it for you briefly with links and prices:
500 excavators (friendly price)
800 foil and fleece
500 pond plants
0 pipes and floor drains (I can’t say more)
230 pipe pumps
1500 edge filters Fa. FIAP
1400,- cartridge filter P50
179,- UVC
500,- skimmer
So around 5609,- Euro and I probably forgot a lot of things.[…]”

Quelle: https://topteich-forum.de/forum/thread/2031-schwimmteich-kosten/?postID=6018#post6018
Nutzer: Klaus E.

Note follow-up costs

“[…] We had our pond dredged, have fleece 900 under and on the foil 1.00 (green) and a bank mat throughout the pond. We also have a pump shaft, a suction collector, 2 skimmers, 2 bottom suction points, pond lighting, wireless power distributor, an NG 8000 pump, a standard filter, a UV 55 device, plants, a stream with waterfalls, 2 tons of sandstone in and around the pond/ Stream, a granite bridge, NG rails around the pond (50 circumferential meters) and approx. 4 cubic meters of pebbles on the embankment (between the stepping stones). We also processed 50 sacks of concrete in and around the pond/stream. Cost point: approx. 17,000 euros.

[…]

I can’t give you an exact answer to the follow-up costs because our pond is not yet in operation. We calculate about €300/year in water costs and about €500/year in electricity costs. A mud vacuum cleaner worth €279 will definitely be due next year.”

Source: https://www.teichbau-forum-naturagart.de/index.php/forum/22-allgemeines/1342-kosten-eines-schwimmteiche#1343
User: Bee

Natural pool without chemicals and filters

“[…] If you think that it has to work entirely without chemicals/filters, etc., I can only confirm this from my own experience (swimming pond of a similar size, 1.50 m deep, sometimes 2.50 m deep). You just have to accept a slightly greenish, cloudy tone in the swimming pond 1 to 3 times a year. Although I think that this is nature in its “purest” form. If you can only accept crystal clear water to be happy, you can’t avoid spending a few euros on filters, etc.

Note on my pond: I only work with a circulation pump for the waterfall/stream, but that’s a maximum of 4,000 l/h. A calculated circulation therefore only takes place every 1.5 to 2 days. But it has been working without problems for 4 years.”

Quelle: https://www.teichbau-forum-naturagart.de/index.php/forum/8-wasseraufbereitung-filtertechnik-fuer-fisch-und-schwimmteiche/14903-schwimmteich-filtern-aber-wie#14904
Nutzer: Daniel 7