Dear friends,
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!
Here’s what’s happening at BioNova® Natural Pools North America…
The Hidden Key to a Clear Natural Pool: Proper Hydraulics and Circulation
When people look at a natural swimming pool, they usually notice the obvious things first, the beautiful design, the clear water, the landscaping, and perhaps the biological filter. But underneath all of that is something you can’t see: hydraulics.
Proper water movement is one of the most important factors in making a natural swimming pool work. A healthy biological filter can only do its job if the right amount of water is consistently moving through the system.
Water Has to Go Somewhere
A natural pool isn’t simply a hole filled with water and a biological filter attached to it. The entire system needs to be designed around how water moves. Water must be drawn from the appropriate areas of the pool, transported through the filtration system, processed biologically, and returned to the pool in a way that promotes circulation throughout the entire swimming area.
The goal is to avoid stagnant areas where water isn’t being adequately exchanged. Good hydraulics keep the entire pool participating in the ecosystem.
It’s About More Than Just Pump Size
It’s easy to think that a bigger pump automatically means better circulation. It doesn’t. The pump, plumbing, pipe sizes, fittings, elevations, filtration system, and return locations all work together to determine how water actually moves.
A pump that is too large can create unnecessary energy consumption and excessive flow through components that weren’t designed for it. A pump that is too small may not provide adequate turnover or filtration.
Getting Water Through the Biofilter
This becomes particularly important with biological filtration. The biofilter is where a tremendous amount of biological activity takes place. Water passing through the filter brings nutrients and organic material into contact with the microbial community living within the filtration media. If circulation is inadequate, portions of the system may not receive the water they need.
If circulation is properly designed, the biological filter can continuously interact with the pool water and contribute to maintaining water quality. This is why filtration and hydraulics can’t really be considered separate subjects. The biology depends on the hydraulics.
Avoiding Dead Zones
One of the enemies of good circulation is the “dead zone”, an area where water movement is minimal. Dead zones can occur in corners, around steps, near walls, or in poorly designed sections of a pool. When water isn’t moving effectively, organic material and nutrients can accumulate.
Proper placement of drains, skimmers, returns, and circulation points helps prevent these areas from developing. The result is a pool where water is continually being exchanged rather than simply sitting in isolated pockets.
The Invisible Work Behind Clear Water
When a natural pool is crystal clear, it is tempting to credit only the biological filter. But behind that clear water is an entire system working together.
You can have excellent biology, but without good hydraulics, that biology can’t reach its full potential.
A natural swimming pool is a living ecosystem, but it is also a carefully engineered hydraulic system. The best results come when the two work together:
Biology cleans the water.
Hydraulics deliver the water.
Good design makes both possible.
So the next time you look at a crystal-clear natural pool, remember that some of the most important work is happening where you can’t see it, under the surface, inside the plumbing, and through the continuous movement of water. That’s the hidden power of proper circulation.
Stay Safe and Healthy.
We hope you all continue to stay healthy during these trying times and wish all of our BioNova® Dealers our best to you and your families.
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
