Help Needed - Alternatives to chlorine for pools

[Ginny]

We're currently building a water storage facility to irrigate our land and would like it to double as a swimming pool (yes it's hot working here!). Obviously we don't want to use chlorine but need to keep the water clean. The water used will be replenished every couple of weeks from the local acequia (700 year old water distribution system used locally) basically snow melt. The only systems we've managed to find on the internet have been prohibitively expensive. Anybody with knowledge of reed beds or UV systems out there? or any other ideas welcome!!

[Clara]

A friend of mine uses her alberca as a pool and does not use any form of treatment - though I think it gets refilled every week (she lives high and gets lot of water).

My alberca stays fairly clean as there is a constant flow in and out - is this possible for you or would you get into trouble with others who have acequia rights?

Clara x

[Ginny]

The locals are very touchy about water rights - running a hose pipe off the acequia whilst building the alberqua nearly caused world war 3
We've tried to negotiate for less water more often but we're stuck with our 16 hours every 16 days. It may be OK for 16 days but I'm doubtful.

[lorrayne]

Have you tried googling swimming ponds - there maybe some info relevant to your needs - just a thought
Lorrayne

[Sky]

Could you use salt?

Don't know anything about swimming pools and keeping them clean but our local pool years ago in the UK used to use salt instead of chlorine

[contadina]

You can't use salt water to irrigate land - all the plants would die.

We toyed with the idea of building a mini tub to sit in which could be filled with water from our cistern daily and then used to irrigate. We've not got round to it yet though, as when it's really hot, it's too hot to work so we just head for the beach instead.

[Sky]

Ooops didn't read the post properly didn't realize it was for irrigation too.

[ina]

The only alternative I've ever heard of is oxygen - but I suppose that is the expensive option.

[Ginny]

Yes, so far oxygen seems a very expensive option, and I have tried googling without any luck! Maybe we just trust to luck for this year and see how it goes....

[wyverne]

goldfish will prevent the pond from becoming stagnant. water weeds can be planted in baskets to keep them away from fittings that might get clogged. a complete ecosystem that is self-sustaining will emerge within a week or two if you only put in enough good soil to sustain the plants and a few young goldfish. they will breed up to capacity and not need culling. while getting established they may need feeding - half bran and half commercial fish food (dried shrimp) and not too much - a spoonful of each will feed about fifty small fish. if the pond is big, this won't be necessary. swimming with them is fun - they become quite tame. the plants grown on this bio-rich water are healthy, and the animals that drink it eagerly (my dog prefers it) are safe from harm.
i've been happily swimming in stored water for a couple of years now. my pond is only three meters across, so my biggest fish are only about seven inches or so long, but they can grow very large in bigger ponds.
one goldfish used to be kept in stored water tanks to eat the mozzie wrigglers. they do an excellent job of it. in winter they hibernate, and become active again in spring.