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Cyndi Schlosser, the facility manager, said the natural pool is an alternative for people who have sensitivities to chemically treated water.

“The plants actually absorb a lot of what would be contaminants to humans, but would be nutrients for the plants,” Schlosser said.

There are special rules for visitors to the natural pool to keep what’s bad for the plants out.

The water is amazingly clear and beautiful. You can open your eyes under the water and see

Phosphates, which are in sunscreens and shampoos, have to be washed off with a cleansing head-to-toe shower, and staff watch to make sure you take one before entering the pool. Cotton is banned because it may contain dyes and other contaminants that hurt the plants.

The water is also kept on the nippy side. Schlosser said the pool is heated to 23 C and relies on the sun for anything warmer. But if the water temperature increases to 29 C, everyone has to get out because of a greater potential for bacterial growth.

So far, people have been following the rules.

Photo by Jason Franson/Canadian Press

“It’s a lot of education and just finding out how it’s different, because you’re part of the environment and you’re part of the system,” Schlosser said. “To help keep it open, we need the public’s assistance to ensure we maintain good water quality.”

On hot days this week, there have been long lineups by the time the pool opened at noon, and the queue remained long through the afternoon. The pool can handle 400 bathers at one time, but has a limit of 980 a day. When that’s reached, it has to close because the filter wouldn’t be able to keep up.