Hello all, I have purchased a house in the Pays de Fayence, Var; it has a large chlorine pool and I need to find a company that specialises into converting pools into natural ones (not salt pools). Can anyone recommend such a company in the area? Or does anyone have any experience of doing the same and can give me some advice?
First question is do you have a natural water supply on your land and have you spoken to the Marie about making a declaration to Direction DĆ©partementale des Territoires et de la Mer (DDTM) to use it?
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Iām sure @Corona will be along with his usual good advice. 
Being totally ignorant, Iāve just googled ānatural swimming poolā and there seem to be some wonderful ideas with plants etc.
but, where will the water supply be coming from, do you have a well or stream nearby?
I realise rainwater will helpā¦ (when/if that falls from the skies 
)
Similar to a regular pool they require top ups especially in this weather. The biggest thing for me is the way the natural pools are integrated into the space. The converted to natural pools often still have the hard landscaping of a regular pool but either have a wet area for the planting of the various plants to clean the water or they rely on a biofilter, often converted from a pool filter. There does need to be a considerable additional area for planted natural pools. Given the considerable additional cost involved I would ask what is the reason behind wanting the conversion?
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I donāt necessarily advise this because it might have not been legal, but I did that digging in rock with a minidigger many years ago.
Lined it with sand, then with a soft liner topped off with the best, thickest, rubber liner. Then I simply filled it with water from the tap with a long hose.
Took care to build it in a space between tall trees to give maximum shade and minimum evaporation. In this canicule the level is only a few inches below normal, and because of the shade, it hardly ever has ice on in winter.
Beginnings:
Inauguration, in November
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Aside: this thread is in āForum Supportā! That gave me a chuckle. Thank you, Iām feeling a bit stressed today and needed a lift! 
Hello Jane, no the source is from the mains, just like the existing chlorine pool. I am going to the Mairie tomorrow to ask for relevant permissions. I will be doing everything above-board and with permits etc but I was just posting for any contacts for someone who specialises in natural pools who can undertake the work.
Do you know of a company in the region that can undertake the work? I have done all the research into what a natural pool involves and the conversion of a chlorine pool into one. There is plenty of room for the regeneration zones and for planting weeds and the water source will be from the mains, as it is now. It is an exciting alternative.
Hi Corona, yes I realise all of this. The reason for the conversion is to be rid of all the nasty chemicals, itās ugly (I canāt stand all these turquoise blobs all over the landscape) and Iād like to think that wildlife would benefit, especially in heatwaves like this one. Do you know of a company that could undertake a conversion?
Thank you for the giggle!
Other colours are available
The nasty chemicals are only 1-3 parts per million of water. Whilst most bacteria are killed most wildlife are fine in midly chlorinated water but its nice to build them an escape ladder.
Gardening in France | Natural Swimming Pools & Consultancy Gardening in France | Natural Swimming Pools & Consultancy
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Ok, hadnāt quite understood. So it is basically a more naturally designed swimming pool to fit into landscape better.
Itās like a tap filled garden pond really.
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Yes which cleans itself without chemical and is like a deep pond that can be used for swimming.
Thank you!
Less about the design, more about the contents. The original pool will be used, emptied of the chlorinated water (with permits from the mairie). A regeneration site built beside it for the cleaning of the water by use of plants, bacteria and degrees of grit and gravel.
You do realise that if you are going to swim in it you will eventually be accompanied by all kinds of wildlife, donāt you?
I am and I revel in it and nothing does me any harm.
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How to Build Your Own Natural Pool in France for Under ā¬8,000 How to Build Your Own Natural Pool in France for Under ā¬8,000
Just forget the nonsense about naturally soft water as that depends on your local water and not a swim pond without chemicals. Pump at 35 watts, same as my swimming pool and often I run at 27 watts so only folk with power hungry pumps who have to worry about cost. 20 litre biddon of chlorine lasts a month or more. Just things to factor in before spending big money.
Did you look at any of the companies I posted? Incidentally they tend to be called baignades naturelles rather than piscines. You can disinfect by sending the water through an ultraviolet āfilterā.
I looked into converting my pool but decided not to bother since I donāt have a natural watercourse to supply it. They also need more land than a normal pool since you have reed beds for filtration and shallow rocky bits to warm the water.