Page 17 - Outdoor Living October 2025

LIFESTYLE

or decades, the glinting blue of a chlorine pool
was a symbol of status — crisp, chemical, and
Fidentical from one backyard to the next. But
today’s homeowners are asking different questions:
What if the water could be soft and chemical-free?
What if the pool itself became part of the garden
ecosystem? What if luxury could look and feel
natural?

Across South Africa’s luxury estates and backyards, a
quiet revolution is happening: the rise of sustainable
pools.

The Problem with Chlorine Pools
Traditional pools carry hidden costs. Chlorine and
chemical treatments can irritate eyes, skin, and
lungs. Storing hazardous products is inconvenient,
and the sharp smell is often the first thing guests
notice. Maintenance can feel relentless: constant pH
balancing, filter cleaning, and high electricity use. Add
in water restrictions during dry Highveld summers,
and the turquoise rectangle of old suddenly feels less
like a luxury and more like a burden.

Families are looking for healthier, simpler alternatives
that align with a modern awareness of wellness and
sustainability.

Eco Alternatives: Pools that Work with Nature
The most exciting innovation isn’t just in how pools
look — it’s in how they function.
• Natural Swimming Pools: These systems use
regeneration zones — shallow beds of gravel and
plants — to filter and purify water, mimicking the
way wetlands clean rivers. The result is water so
clear it feels like swimming in a mountain stream.
Dragonflies and birds often return, making the pool
a mini-ecosystem.
• Mineral Pools: Instead of harsh chlorine, mineral
systems use salts and magnesium to keep water
clean. They’re gentle on skin, hair, and eyes,
and the water feels “silkier” to swim in. Many
families describe them as more therapeutic than
conventional pools.
• Hybrid Solutions: Eco-pumps, solar heating,
and water-saving covers add another layer
of sustainability, reducing energy costs and
evaporation. Even traditional-looking pools can be
retrofitted to become far more eco-friendly.

The shift is less about sacrifice, more about swimming
in water that feels alive.

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