Natural Ponds

A natural pond begins with the land itself. Our technical team examines the structure of the ground, the fall, the groundwater conditions and the distribution of sun and shade through the day on site, then establishes the right position for the swimming and purification zones.

On the same visit, the water supply, the electrical connection and the leaf load from the surrounding trees are assessed; each of these has a direct bearing on how long the balance you are about to build will hold.

• Ground and groundwater survey
• Site fall and level measurement
• Sun and shade distribution
• Surrounding trees and leaf load
• Water supply source
• Access to the electrical supply
• Intended use (swimming / landscape)
• Preliminary budget frame

A pond is built on two zones: the swimming zone that holds the clear water, and the regeneration zone that purifies it through the balance of plants and microorganisms. The ratio between the two, the depth stages and the direction of water movement are all calculated within the project.

The depth profile is drawn in tiers; the shallow shoreline bands are given over to planting, the deep central volume to swimming. The design is presented as a 3D visual, and the plant list is settled according to the climate.

• Swimming zone dimensions
• Regeneration zone ratio
• Depth stages and terraces
• Water transfer and return directions
• Shoreline and entry points
• Climate-appropriate plant list
• Natural stone and landscape language
• 3D visual and project approval

Excavation follows the depth profile in the design, in tiered terraces; each terrace serves both as a planting bed and as a safe step. Part of the excavated soil is reused in shaping the shoreline.

The ground is cleared of sharp stones, roots and fill debris, and the surface the membrane will sit on is compacted and levelled. Surrounding levels are set so that rainwater cannot run into the pond uncontrolled.

• Tiered terrace excavation
• Checking the depth levels
• Clearing sharp stones and roots
• Ground compaction
• Surrounding levels and rainwater direction
• Making use of the excavated soil
• Technical chamber pit
• Excavation approval and record

Waterproofing is achieved by laying a protective geotextile felt over the ground and applying a flexible membrane made for ponds, with welded seams. On suitable ground, compacted natural clay is an alternative.

The membrane edges are concealed along the shoreline with bands of stone and planting; what remains visible on the surface is natural texture, not plastic.

• Laying the geotextile protection
• Membrane selection and laying
• Welding and testing the seams
• Edge fixing details
• Compacted clay alternative
• Pipe and skimmer penetration seals
• Concealing the membrane at the shoreline
• Waterproofing check

Water is drawn from the swimming zone by low-speed, economical pumps, carried to the gravel-bedded regeneration zone and returned after filtering through the colonies of beneficial bacteria on the surface of the plant roots. This invisible biofilm layer is the real worker in the purification.

A skimmer is planned for surface debris and a vacuum line for the floor; leaving no stagnant corner is the central aim of the circulation design.

• Low-speed pump selection
• Gravel bed and filter layers
• Water intake and discharge points
• Skimmer and surface cleaning
• Floor vacuum line
• Stagnant corner check
• Pipe routes and valves
• Technical chamber layout

The regeneration zone is planted with a mix of marsh plants, deep-water plants and surface plants, chosen for the climate, that purify the water. Each species consumes the surplus nutrients in the water and reduces the share left for algae.

The shoreline is shaped with natural stone, gravel beach bands and soft transitions. The pond reads as a continuation of the garden rather than an addition to it.

• Marsh plant selection
• Deep-water and surface plants
• Planting baskets and substrate
• Shoreline stone and beach band
• Entry step / jetty detail
• Balance of planting density
• Landscape lighting (option)
• Planting approval

The cost of a pond is shaped by the total water surface, the excavation volume, the grade of membrane and the extent of the landscaping. Unlike a conventional pool, the chemical and energy items are low while the planting item is substantial.

After the site survey, every item is presented in writing with the reasoning behind it; we show clearly which part of the initial investment is recovered in operation.

• Water surface and excavation volume
• Membrane grade and quantity
• Pump and circulation item
• Planting and substrate item
• Natural stone and landscaping scope
• Technical chamber and electrics
• Operating cost projection
• Itemised written quotation

Once the pond meets water, the biological balance needs a maturing period to settle in; plants put down roots and colonies of beneficial bacteria establish themselves. The temporary cloudiness seen during this period is natural and calls for no intervention.

At handover we set up the maintenance routine together: surface cleaning, plant care and checks at the turn of the season. We keep monitoring the balance through the first season.

• Filling in stages
• Pump and flow test
• First balance observation
• Monitoring cloudiness
• Checking plant establishment
• Maintenance routine training
• Seasonal transition guide
• Handover record