New NSP Project in Carnation, Washington

Our BioNova® team is proud to announce another new NSP project, this time in Carnation, Washington. 

This project is in the design phases and will follow the trend of having a pool that is filtered with a BF4 biofilter but also have a decorative planted area. As is the typical motivation for an NSP the client wished to have a more natural setting and liked the efficiency of the biofilter but also wants the natural looks of a decorative pond/planted area. The pool will be 40 feet by 15 feet with a 24 foot by 4 foot planted zone set to the side of the pool. The depth configuration will be 4 feet in the shallow end down to 6 feet in the deep end. The shallow end will contain a large tanning shelf.

The pool will be filtered with a 14 tube BF4 system which which will be contained in a 15 foot by 4 foot BF4 vault set off the deep end and will be feed water through 2 SkimmerKlappes. 

We are very excited about this project and as always, we look forward to updating you on this project as it progresses.

Our Podcast on Natural Swimming Pools Continues to Grow

There are new episodes of our podcast. Click below to listen.

Listen Now!

We would love to hear about your current BioNova® projects. Please send Ryan, ryan@bionovanaturalpools.com, any information and pictures of your projects and we will gladly put them in the newsletter to share with all of the dealers. Thank you and we hope to see your inputs soon!

Questions, Concerns, Thoughts

As always, we encourage you to contact us and share your thoughts, questions, and concerns with BioNova®. We are available to assist you in any way we can. Feel free to email me directly with photos, project updates, testimonials, etc., and we’ll include them in an upcoming Newsletter.

Respectfully,

Ryan Harmer
BioNova® Natural Pools
ryan@bionovanaturalpools.com
609-318-4707

The post BioNova Weekly News – 3/14/2025 appeared first on BioNova®.

Here’s what’s happening at BioNova® Natural Pools North America…

New Online NSP Education

As mentioned a few weeks back, BioNova® was in attendance at this years 2024 Pool and Spa Show in Atlantic City, New Jersey where our Vice President of Dealer Development, Allen Schnaak, was in town to promote awareness of Natural Pools and gave two separate presentations on natural pools.

We had a great turn out to both presentations, but to help expand our audience and spread the word even more about natural pools  we recorded both presentations. These recording have been edited and the slides provide in the corner of the video so they can be easily read, and these videos are now available to anyone on YouTube.

The first, titled “BioNova NSP Natural Swimming Pool Basics for Builders“, provides the intro level information on NSPs. Specifically how some use a planted regeneration zone, others employ a biological filter that don’t require plants and how in all cases, a properly designed NSP will provide clear, clean, soothing water that is entirely chemical free.

The second presentation, titled “BioNova NSP Natural Swimming Pool Design for Builders“, discusses the design of NSPs to include details about properly sizing the biological filter area to accommodate the size of the swimming area as well as the anticipated use and bather load requirements. 

We hope these are a valuable source of information to you and your clients and encourage you to disseminate these as you see fit.

We would love to hear about your current BioNova® projects. Please send Ryan, ryan@bionovanaturalpools.com, any information and pictures of your projects and we will gladly put them in the newsletter to share with all of the dealers. Thank you and we hope to see your inputs soon!

Questions, Concerns, Thoughts

As always, we encourage you to contact us and share your thoughts, questions, and concerns with BioNova®. We are available to assist you in any way we can. Feel free to email me directly with photos, project updates, testimonials, etc., and we’ll include them in an upcoming Newsletter.

Ryan Harmer

The post New Online Natural Swimming Pool Education appeared first on BioNova®.

In general, however, you can expect to see different pond weeds pop up at different times of the year based on environmental temperature, just like the dandelions and clovers in your lawn will grow and flower at different times during the spring and summer. If your NSP or pond freezes over, the perennial weeds will typically die back in the winter and re-emerge in the spring. Some plants, however, will continue to grow throughout the cold season, though at a much slower rate than you’d see in the warmer summer months.

Trouble surfaces when water temperatures drop to the point where algaecides and herbicides become ineffective, but the weeds continue to grow. Algaecides such as copper, for example, stop working when the water is below 60° Fahrenheit. In addition, beneficial bacteria in an aquatic environment slow down and will even become dormant when temperatures fall below 50°F.

It should also be noted that some winter algae blooms can be beneficial once spring arrives. Diatoms, a major group of algae, can thrive in the winter as they take advantage of reduced competition from other plants that grow through the summer. Come spring this will benefit the NSP as diatoms with take out nutrients in the water, and other beneficial organisms will in turn eat the diatoms leading to clear water.

Unfortunately, if you are seeing an excess of algae growth during the winter months and the water temperatures are below 60° Fahrenheit, there is not much you can do to fight it, other than manually removing it, until temperatures rise in the spring and beneficial bacteria begins to thrive again. Just know that this a normal part of an aquatic environments life cycle.

The post Winter Natural Swimming Pool Tips: Does Algae Stop Growing During the Winter? appeared first on BioNova®.

January 7th at 2p EST

January 21st at 2p EST

February 4th at 2p EST

February 18th at 2p EST

No registration required.  Simply click on this link on the date you’d like to attend.

All Sessions will provide the same content, providing the attendee with information on

What is an NSP
Types of Biological filters
Operation and maintenance
BioNova’s role in your project

The post Webinars: All you need to know about Natural Swimming Pools appeared first on BioNova®.

This invitation is extended to all current BioNova Dealers as well as Landscape and Swimming Pool designers/builders who are interested in adding NSPs to their current business portfolio.

This 4 day seminar is FREE to our BioNova Dealers

$275 per person for NON BioNova Dealers

Hotel reservations should be made direct with the Marriot

Contact Allen Schnaak (allen@bionovanaturalpools.com) to register those who would like to attend.

The post BioNova Dealer meeting 2023: Mar 29th – Apr 1st appeared first on BioNova®.

Since natural swimming pools use the same biological processes of filtration and sanitation as lakes and streams, there is a theoretical risk of harmful algae blooms as seen above.

These algae blooms have been known to close beaches, and are generally a result of excess phytoplankton growth. Blue-Green algae (Cyanobacteria) is the most common phytoplankton species involved in them, and can cause sickness in people and animals.

Luckily, scientists know the cause of these harmful algae blooms, and they can be prevented with proper planning within natural swimming pools.

The known cause of eutrophication (harmful algae blooms), is as simple as an excess of nutrients within the water. The particular nutrients of concern are nitrogen and phosphorous, which are also the core nutrients found within fertilizers.

There is a natural ratio of nitrogen to phosphorous that is present in water, which allows plant growth to occur. However, when runoff occurs bringing additional nutrient into the water in the form of fertilizer, this ratio is thrown off and phytoplankton growth is no longer limited.

With an abundance of nutrients present, phytoplankton will continue to grow while reducing oxygen present in the water, resulting in conditions that can kill plant life, and harm animal and human swimmers.

In order to prevent algae blooms from occurring in a natural swimming pool, the main focus is to prevent any surface water runoff (nutrients) from entering the pool. This is accomplished in a number of ways, and can vary depending on the topography of the yard.

The first key is to use a water proofing material on the interior of the pool, so no nutrients can enter through the soil, this is important for all installations.

Another important step for all installations is lab testing any substrate that will come in contact with the pool water (gravel in the filter), as well as the pool water itself prior to use. As expected, the main things we are looking for within the test results, are low levels of phosphates and nitrates (phosphorous and nitrogen).

Lastly, the yard surrounding the natural swimming pool must be graded to guide any runoff away from the pool. With severe slopes in yards, this sometimes requires retaining walls and/or French drains.

No matter the location of your NSP, BioNova® is committed to ensuring these algae blooms will never be found in your backyard oasis.

The post How is algae growth limited without the use of chemicals? appeared first on BioNova®.

There are an estimated 10.4 million residential swimming pools in the United States, a vast majority of which are treated with chemicals, thus making them carbon sources. It is hard to quantify exactly how much carbon a single chemical swimming pool outputs due to the process of manufacturing, packaging, and transporting chemicals. However, we were able to quantify the amount of CO2 that the average NSP takes OUT of the atmosphere, based on a 16’x32’ rectangle construction used by a family of 4.

Instead of paying for carbon shares to offset your carbon footprint, why not install your very own carbon sink in your backyard!

The post What if Every Swimming Pool in the United States was an NSP? appeared first on BioNova®.

If you’ve thought about ways to live a more sustainable life, you’re not alone. In the last 5 years, there has been a 71% increase in the popularity of searches for sustainable goods.

With a large increase in the demand for swimming pools, as many people continue to work from home, it is worth discussing the relationship between these two trends.

Of the 10.4 million swimming pools in the United States, just about everyone is treated with chemicals, which is not sustainable by any means.

Natural Swimming Pool’s (NSP’s) are filtered and sanitized through biological processes found in nature (streams and ponds), and use absolutely zero chemicals (including salt).

As seen above, they visually appear very similar to a “traditional” chemical swimming pool, but tend to have a more tropical, aquamarine color to the water.

If you prefer a more natural look, you may choose to incorporate aquatic plants into the design with no issue.

NSP’s have the opportunity to negate and even offset the lack of sustainability in the industry.

Within this blog series, we will visit the ways we can quantify the positive environmental impact each NSP has, in addition to the potential impacts the industry could have as a whole.

This coming summer, zooplankton and phytoplankton survey’s will be performed, biofilm growth will be quantified, our efforts to expand the popularity of NSP’s will be highlighted, and much more through this blog series.

If you are someone who strives to live a more sustainable life, or have recognized the negative environmental impact of “traditional” swimming pools, we invite you to follow along and/or share the message of how your backyard swimming pool could help, not hurt, our planet.

The post The Environmental Impacts of NSP’s – A Blog Series appeared first on BioNova®.

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Until spring arrives in North America, it can feel like you’ve been on autopilot and hibernation mode all winter. Toss that nagging feeling through the open window and let in the fresh breezes and golden rays instead. The moderate temperatures are just suitable for humans (around 72ºF), and the increased amount of daylight recalls the adage, “make hay while the sun shines”. Let birdsong provide the soundtrack to your life if you leave the earbuds at home and spot the baby animals that emerge from their shelter in the fresh dew. 

Frolicking in the spring sun isn’t just for the baby critters. What better time to take your exercise routine outdoors again? When it finally becomes warm enough to throw on a bathing suit instead of a sweatsuit and set up the shade umbrella, you’re probably itching to dive in and paddle around in a refreshing pool. While some public pools are scheduled to open around Memorial Day, residents still have safety concerns regarding COVID-19. If you need help to keep yourself distanced during the spring and summer at a public pool, the length of a pool noodle in an outstretched arm is a handy guide! As for virus transmission, the CDC is not currently aware of any reports that claim the virus can spread through the water. However, the high traffic nature of public swimming pools may still pose a risk, so keeping the goggles on at your home pool is a safer option. 

4 Tips to Make Sure Your Pool is Dive and Lounge Ready

If you own a natural swimming pool, the swimming season has arrived, and your pool is ready to be serviced. We’ve written about winterizing a natural swimming pool before, and getting your pool spring ready is just as straightforward. Before you race the kids out to the backyard to see who can make the biggest cannonball, remember to contact your BioNova pool contractor or maintenance technician to check the following:

1. Take down coverings or leaf nets that prevented litter buildup on the surface of the water. If you are doing this step yourself, don’t set the paper leaf bags by the curb and forget them, because the leaves you collect can make excellent compost in your garden.

2. Remove pipe plugs that kept water from collecting and freezing inside the plumbing, which could lead to damaged systems. Residents in Texas were bombarded with winter storms this February, and their traditional chemical pool filters took quite a beating (see below). Every step you take to prevent standing water in a system when it is shut down makes a this a less-likely occurrence, but not much can stop a blizzard’s windchill on pipes.

3. Have your natural pool expert survey the edges and foundation of your pool to spot any problem areas from severe winter weather. Materials expand and contract with the changing weather and the warmer air is a good time to see if anything has shifted or cracked.

4. It is vital to monitor the status of any aquatic plants in a natural swimming pool. Winterizing your aquatic plants in late fall should prep them for the arrival of spring, but plants that weren’t clipped below the waterline may have had their stalks or surface foliage damaged in a hard freeze. If your natural swimming pool system depends on aquatic plants for biological filtration, don’t overlook these crucial biological filtration elements. Have your aquatic plant technician give you a health report on your foliage and follow these suggestions for a clean, healthy pool that says “jump in, the water is fine.”

Nature’s Yearly Lessons

You already know that plants and sunshine go together like peanut butter and jelly. This partnership directly affects natural swimming pool cleanliness and water clarity; aquatic plants use solar energy for food, oxygen creation for us, and excess nutrients uptake from bodies of water. This interaction is doubly true in spring and summer when biological activity peaks. Natural pools with plants mimic natural lake ecosystems by using available forms of phosphorus and nitrogen. In short, more sunshine equals more photosynthesis to utilize nutrients for healthy water.

The spring season also inspires many to be creative, just like BioNova has gotten creative with our natural swimming pool filtration approach. We’re really jazzed up about our BioPool technology as the new wave (pun intended) of aquatic recreation. With a smaller space and material footprint than a traditional BioSwim Pond, BioPools accomplish the efficient biofiltration performed by plants with a more streamlined microscopic process. We’ll keep it reader-friendly in this blog, but if you want more information, you can download our free Definitive Guide to Natural Swimming Pools for 2021 here.

Bacteria with an (Out)Competitive Edge

When water mixes in the spring from wind and warmth, the phosphorus and ammonium built up in the bottom fuels increased algal growth. Historically, this has been a problem with chemically-treated pools chasing a chemically-induced water balance that can be as fickle as the spring weather. Any new input (rainstorms, bugs, lawn fertilizer runoff, etc) of nutrients into the water may trigger a bloom of algae, which restarts the balance cycle again and again.

Whatever nutrients algae can’t utilize can leave room for undesirable bacteria to flourish. These bacteria need a reality check from mother nature. That is what the BioPool filtration offers with a nature-based solution to water clarification! By mimicking a rapidly-moving body of water like a river or stream, our BF4 Biofilm Filter effectively scours the pool with water turnover rates to prevent unchecked opportunistic bacterial growth. By harvesting long-term nutrient storage in a controlled system, the undesirable bacteria is kept at manageable levels to let the beneficial bacteria survive and thrive in a microbial colony. With a “pantry” full of nutrients to snack on once they emerge from winter dormancy, good microbes have as much to love about spring as us! 

Simply put, you don’t need a microscope or a science degree to enjoy the benefits of a natural swimming pool. If you already own a natural swimming pool, you’re familiar with the benefits of swimming in the emerald or aquamarine waters with your family. For those with a traditional chemical pool, you can join in the natural bathing water fun as well. BioNova offers natural swimming pool conversions as an option for making the switch to a living aquatic ecosystem as part of your backyarding activities. BioNova’s Quality Process (shown below) details all the steps we take to make your natural pool project a success.

We mobilize our natural swimming pool contractors after our consultation to outline what your vision is for a slice of paradise. Spring remains a busy time for most contractors, though, so start your planning for next year if you want to be the premier pool party for a spring bash! Get in contact with us here or check out our FAQ page for more immediate answers to your questions like natural swimming pool cost and pool contractors in your city or state. If you want to have a natural pool ready for next spring, reach out today to discuss a natural swimming pool build or conversion so we can start the process as soon as possible.

The post Public Swimming Safety, Spring Maintenance, and Nature’s Quality Process appeared first on BioNova®.