New Aussie Trend Saves Thousands On Water And Power Bill

Derek Spielman is one of 50 Aussies who have converted their swimming pool in a pond, filling it with water lilies, turtles, fish and other aquatic plants, attracting native birds, dragonflies and bees.

Pool converted to a pond creates its own eco system and saves thousands of dollars on water and electric bills each year. The ponds are healthy a good for quick dip. Photo Credit: SMH

Spielman says even as a child, while taking a dive in his neighbor’s pool, he use to think how much better it would be to swim with nature.

Spielman’s pond contains local fish as well as spotted gudgeons, a fish variety that eats mosquito. That keeps his pond free from the dangerous and annoying pests naturally.

As for mosquito that live in the water, deeper than 12 inches, Spielman doesn’t have to worry, they don’t bite humans.

The decision to turn the pool into a pond came after realizing that the family of four used the pool only six times in one year.

“I wanted to turn our pool into a pond for years,” said Spielman, a doctor. “It was costing us a lot of time and money, and nobody used it.”

Peter Clarke, the co-ordinator of Ku-ring-gai Council’s ”wild things” program says: “When you look at a disused pool, you presume it must be a danger to health. The leaves gather, it is dark on the bottom and you see mosquito wrigglers”.

According to Clarke random tests for ecoli and other bacteria by the University of Sydney on eight pools converted to ponds found all were within the guidelines for primary water contact.

“We’ve seen pools not looked after for years and years, and the water is always clear,” Mr Clarke said.

A pool turned into a pond can be reversed back to a pool. The ponds are also good for a quick dip.

Contribution: Julie Power.