The 5 Types of Natural Pool Filtration Systems

What’s the Difference Between Natural, Saltwater & Chlorine Pools

A raw, wild experience. This type of pool uses no filtration technology — only plants and natural processes. Water may be cloudy at times, just like in nature. Energy usage is near zero, and maintenance involves pruning and occasional debris removal. It’s ideal for those who want a true ecosystem pond with a swim zone — not crystal clarity.

Best For:

• Decorative ponds

• Wild swimming ponds

• Natural lakes

• Remote or low-maintenance sites
  (Not suitable for formal pools or clarity-focused swimmers)

Chlorine Pools

Whether you're envisioning a wild swimming pond, a crystal-clear natural pool, or a sleek biopool with zero chemicals, Aqua Vitae can help bring your vision to life. With over 25 years of specialized experience, we design and build custom natural water systems tailored to your land, lifestyle, and aesthetic. And through our online store, we offer complete, pre-configured equipment kits for every filtration type featured here — making it easier than ever to get started, wherever you are. From concept to crystal clarity, we're here to support your natural pool journey.

1. PURE NATURE

This system adds a touch of tech: a skimmer, small pump, and possibly a UV unit. Water stays mostly clear with minimal energy use. Maintenance is light — plant care, skimmer emptying, and occasional cleaning. It balances simplicity with basic clarity.

Best For:

• Swimming ponds

• Larger natural pools

• Naturalistic lakes with occasional use

• Hybrid ornamental ponds
  (Still too natural for high-clarity demands)

Combines healthy plant zones with engineered filtration: bottom drains, sieve filters, bead filters, and UV-C. You get clear water year-round while preserving a natural aesthetic. Requires regular care like backwashing and pruning. This is the true “natural pool” tier.

Best For:

• Residential natural swimming pools

• Family-use pools with clear water goals

• Larger eco-pools that blend into the landscape

• Swimming ponds requiring dependable clarity

TYPE 1 | No Tech, No Filters

2. NATURAL

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have been drawn to water—not merely to survive, but to feel alive. We gather around rivers, lakes, and springs as if answering a quiet ancestral memory. Water has always held a dual identity: both physical and sacred, both mirror and medicine.

Across time and continents, we built places where stone, light, and water converged— sanctuaries of balance. From the clay-lined pools of the Indus Valley to the carved marble baths of Rome and the cedar-framed hot springs of Japan, humanity’s story is inseparable from its relationship with living water.

And yet, somewhere in our modern pursuit of convenience, we forgot that water itself can live or die. In chlorinated sterility, it became clean but lifeless. What we build at Aqua Vitae is not just a return to natural design—it is a reconnection with the oldest wisdom we know: that living water heals.

Choosing the Right Style for Your Landscape

The Five Types of Natural Filtration

3. CLEAR

TYPE 2 | Low-Tech Assist

TYPE 3 | Balanced Tech + Plants

4. CRYSTAL CLEAR

TYPE 4 | High-Tech + Minimal Flora

Plant zones are minimal or separated. Advanced filtration includes UV-C, phosphate control, and continuous-flow pumps for ultra-clear water. Maintenance is more intensive but rewards with crystal clarity and a luxury finish.

Best For:

• High-end natural pools

• Resort installations

• Clients demanding year-round clarity

• Formal gardens with swimming access
  (Begins to blur the line between natural and conventional pools)

5. BIOPOOL

TYPE 5 | No Plants, Full Tech

This system mimics a traditional concrete swimming pool in appearance but runs on biological filtration — no chlorine, no chemicals. No plant zones. Water is crystal clear. Compatible with robotic cleaners and heat pumps.

Best For:

• Bio pools with formal architecture

• Clients who want natural water but modern aesthetics

• Hotels, spas, or homes replacing traditional pools

• Projects needing indoor installations or precise control

Bringing Your Natural Pool Vision to Life