Guidelines

All BANSP members are committed to ensuring the highest quality standards are met in the construction and operation of their swimming ponds and natural pools.

While individual companies have unique methods of building, with pools varying from pond-like forms to conventional pools in appearance, a ‘natural’ swimming experience should always offer clean and hygienic conditions and construction should be well executed.

We follow the guidelines as set out by the IOB:

1. Circular economy: The intention is that all materials used in NSPs construction should fulfill the requirements of Circular Economy. The goal of this is to eliminate waste and the continual consumption of resources. Circular systems employ reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling to create a closed-loop system, minimizing the use of resource inputs and the creation of waste, pollution, and carbon emissions.
2. Biological water purification: To clarify and purify water, NSPs use only mechanical and biological methods to limit nutrients. Any further measures or interventions must primarily ensure these processes. Sustained harmful impacts from using biocides, chemical, or mechanical disinfection are not permitted.
3. Professional Planning: Each NSP is the result of a professional implementation of the customer’s request and planning process based on scientific approaches and state-of-the-art technology. The resulting plan describes the water treatment process and predicts excellent bathing water quality. When the NSP is in operation, the planned water treatment process must meet the predictions and expectations on water quality.
4. Customer Information: Customers should be informed about all aspects of NSPs, including maintenance, especially with respect to what is to be expected in terms of living water quality and the presence of wildlife.
5. Regulations Compliance: Existing applicable building and construction regulations must be followed. This applies also to all safety regulations existing for swimming pools.
6. Internal configuration: An NSP is divided into a bathing area or areas, and treatment area or areas. Treatment areas are not accessible to bathers.
7. Surface Water Runoff: Surface water runoff from the property surrounding the NSP shall not flow into the NSP.
8. Sealing: An NSP must be sealed, that is, isolated from the ground under and around the NSP.
9. Inoffensive Materials: Materials used in NSPs should not pollute water or the environment. This also includes limiting the introduction of phosphorus.
10. Native plants: Autochthonous plants are preferred in an NSP. Plants deemed to be invasive species in the locale where the NSP is located are forbidden. Plants used in an NSP should be cultivated for that purpose and not be harvested from nature.
11. Water composition: All water used to fill the NSP must be analysed for physico-chemical composition before the first filling, and the result must be included in the planning process. Any water used to refill the NSP must be analysed for physico-chemical composition at appropriate and regular intervals.
12. Water Testing: Regular water testing with respect to hygienic and physico-chemical water quality is required by health officials for public NSPs and as needed for private NSPs.
13. Indicator organisms: For the assessment of water quality, the country-specific limit values are to be complied with. Otherwise, the indicator organisms recommended by the WHO for bathing water should be used.