- Improvement of natural reservoirs.
- Artificial reservoirs and pools.
Natural and artificial reservoirs in the urban area.
Cities are often located on the banks of rivers, reservoirs, seas. The territory of the city also includes other bodies of water: lakes, ponds, channels and rivers. Coastal territories are the most valuable for their use in urban development.When planning the decision of cities located on the banks of large reservoirs, it is necessary to strive to bring the central parts of the city and residential development closer to it, create embankments that adorn the city, and place large green areas (recreation areas, parks) near reservoirs. Beaches and facilities for water activities and sports are being created on the banks of reservoirs.
The shores of reservoirs are one of the most favorite places for recreation of the city's population, especially in conjunction with green spaces. In addition to purely aesthetic and functional elements of the urban environment, water bodies also have sanitary and hygienic significance, improving the microclimatic conditions of the coastal strip.
Reservoirs in combination with green areas are one of the most important elements of urban improvement. With the current pace of urbanization, territories with a natural landscape are significantly reduced, which leads to environmental degradation. To reduce these negative phenomena, as well as to combat pollution and noise, special measures are envisaged.
Natural components of the architectural and planning structure of the city - green spaces and reservoirs, actively contributing to the improvement of the urban environment, acquire great importance in urban planning. Reservoirs and green spaces purify the air from dust and gas. Influencing the wind regime and strengthening air currents, they contribute to the dispersion of harmful atmospheric impurities, reduce overheating of the air environment and increase the relative humidity of the air. The microclimate near water bodies is characterized by a decrease in air temperature on a hot summer day by 3-5°C, an increase in relative humidity by 5-12% and an increase in air velocity by 20-30% compared to the adjacent territory. Reservoirs play a significant role in enriching the architectural and planning composition of recreation areas and building areas.
If there are no significant water spaces on the territory of the city, artificial reservoirs are constructed in the form of separate ponds or their cascade. They are located mainly in city parks of culture and recreation and in recreation areas. Cities also arrange decorative ponds, pools for swimming and sports, children's splash pools, etc.
Recently, more and more often natural reservoirs are combined with artificial ones, which is most clearly manifested in the construction of hydroparks. The main feature of hydroparks is the high proportion of water surface in the balance of the territory (up to 50%). Reservoirs in hydroparks, depending on the size and purpose, can be very diverse. These are small decorative geometric ponds with shores decorated with ornamental plants, and large free-shaped ponds used for recreation, entertainment and sports on the water. As a rule, a system of reservoirs is organized in hydroparks with their differentiation for certain activities and recreation (swimming, relaxing near the water, fishing, etc.).
Inland water bodies in hydroparks form the basis of the natural landscape; when they are organized, architectural and planning, artistic, engineering and biological problems are solved in a complex way. Particular attention is paid to reservoirs intended for mass bathing. First of all, attention is drawn to good-quality water, a good bottom, a sandy or grassy shore. The territory near such reservoirs should have open beaches heated by the sun, semi-shaded areas for sports games, shaded areas of quiet rest - aerosolaria.
Water in hydroparks is used in two forms: in motion (rivers, streams, waterfalls, cascades, fountains) and in a calm state (lakes, ponds, pools).
However, along with the great positive value that water bodies have in the city system, they also have a negative factor. The banks of rivers, reservoirs, large lakes are subject to change and processing. The reasons that cause these coastline changes are varied.
The course of the rivers in the plan basically has a sinuous shape, which causes the occurrence of transverse currents that affect the change in the coast. Cross currents reach their maximum value at the vertex (center) of the rounding, then fade towards its end. At the next bend, they reappear, but will already be directed in the opposite direction. These transverse currents have a direction on the water surface from a convex bank to a concave one, and in the bottom layer, on the contrary, from a concave bank to a convex one. It is these arising transverse currents that cause the erosion of the concave banks and the deposition of sediment on the convex banks of the rivers.
The fluctuation of water horizons has a significant influence on the formation of the riverbed. During floods and high waters, bottom currents arise, directed away from the shore and eroding it or towards the shore, causing sediment deposition.
The change in the banks of reservoirs is mainly due to the appearance of waves, which in large reservoirs can reach 4 m or more.
To protect against the destruction of river banks, regulatory structures are used that affect the state of the riverbed. The protection of the banks of reservoirs from collapse is provided by a system of bank protection structures.
Of great importance is the protection of the purity of water in reservoirs. Therefore, the release of rainwater is not allowed: into rivers and watercourses flowing within the boundaries of the city, if the flow rate in them is less than 5 m/s and the flow rate is up to 1 m3/s; in stagnant ponds; in water bodies at the locations of beaches; into fish ponds. The discharge of wastewater into water bodies is possible in cases where the requirements of the "Rules for the Protection of Surface Water from Pollution by Wastewater" are met and the discharge of wastewater is agreed with the bodies of the sanitary and epidemiological service, the protection of fish stocks, and the regulation of the use and protection of water.
In natural and artificial reservoirs located in the residential area of the city and within a distance of up to 3 km from it, the water depth should be at least 1.5 m in the spring and summer, and at least 1 m in case of periodic removal of aquatic vegetation. provide access to ponds and other bodies of water for water intake by fire trucks.
In the conditions of modern urban construction with a tendency to compact buildings, open spaces formed by water bodies and green spaces are becoming increasingly important in the formation of the architectural and planning structure and landscape of the city.
Improvement of natural reservoirs
The main axis of the embankment is the regulation line - the line of intersection of the front surface of the wall or slope of the embankment with the water surface at a low water horizon (Fig. 3). Regulation lines determine the width of rivers and the outline of the banks of reservoirs. The position of the regulation line is determined taking into account the functional purpose of the embankment and its architectural and planning solution.
Fig.1. Embankment with a vertical wall
.
1 - fastening with a drain; 2 - green lawn; 3 - monolithic concrete slabs covering the walking alley;
4 - prefabricated reinforced concrete retaining wall; 5 - return filter; 6 - career change;
Fig.2. escarpment embankment.
1 - fastening with a drain located in a cage with grass sowing; 2 - green lawn; 3 - monolithic concrete slabs covering the walking path; 4 - fastening of slopes with prefabricated reinforced concrete slabs;
5 - precast-monolithic reinforced concrete anchor plate; 6 - career change;
7 - flexible reinforced concrete mattress 20 cm high.
Fig.3. embankment regulation line.
GWV is the high water horizon of estimated probability;
HMW - low water horizon;
LR - control line
Embankments are: single-tier, two-tier or multi-tier. The choice of embankment design is influenced by the horizon of low and high waters, as well as the height of the coast. With a height of up to 5-6 m, preference is given to the simplest - single-tier. When the embankment wall reaches 7-12 m, it is arranged in the form of two tiers, and there may be two offset vertical walls or a combination of a wall with a slope. When the embankment is designed in the park, then in the presence of a high bank, the most optimal solution for the improvement of the coastal territory is a multi-tiered embankment. One-tier embankments should be built without flooding, i.e. surface marks of the pavement and lawns should always be 0.5 m higher than the high water horizon. When designing two-tier and multi-tier embankments, the upper tier should not be flooded, while the walking alleys on the lower tiers can be flooded during high water.
Coastal slopes are divided into three zones in height. The first is the lower underwater part of the slope - it is located below the low water horizon. The second - the zone of temporary flooding - is located between the low water horizon and the high water level. The third zone - unflooded - is located above the calculated high water horizon.
The embankment is a valuable component of the planning and architectural solution of the city as a whole. Therefore, the layout of the embankment itself should be linked to the adjacent territory. An important role is played by the architectural design of the embankment, its cladding, fencing, landscaping, gatherings, etc. Great importance on the embankment is given to green spaces and small architectural forms. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the embankment is visible both from the water and from the opposite bank and serves as a place of rest and walks for the city's population. Therefore, when choosing green spaces, much attention is paid to the height of trees and shrubs, to the color of the foliage and its change in color according to the seasons of the year, at the time of flowering, on lawns and flower beds. On walking alleys, green spaces are placed on the inside of the alley. Embankments are landscaped taking into account their orientation. Thus, on south-facing embankments, especially in hot climates, sufficient shading of individual sections, ventilation and the opportunity to admire wide water landscapes should be ensured at the same time. In this case, preference is given to ordinary plantings or individual trees (palm trees) with high beautiful crowns. In cases where the embankments are multi-tiered, it should be borne in mind that plantings on the lower tier should not block the view of the water from the upper tiers with their crowns. Lawns, flower beds, and undersized flowering shrubs are widely used on sloping embankments.
In addition to walking alleys on the embankments, sites are arranged: viewpoints, for recreation, as well as descents to the water and berths. Ladder descents serve not only to connect walking alleys located at different elevations to each other and to connect the embankment with water, but they are also one of the decorations of the embankment. The difference in elevations of the top and bottom of the exit, its length and width depend on the general layout of the embankment. Steps on staircases should have a size of 14x35 cm with a march of 1: 2.5. With a high descent height, it is necessary to arrange platforms.
Natural and artificial reservoirs are actively used for various types of water sports: swimming and diving, rowing and sailing boat races, etc. This requires the construction of water sports and boat stations, outdoor pools, sports facilities, and hydro parks.
Often, in a natural reservoir, outdoor pools are arranged, which can be of three types: directly in the reservoir, near the reservoir, near the reservoir (Fig. 4). The reservoir and the coastal strip for the pool must meet increased sanitary requirements. Technological requirements for the reservoir are to ensure safety conditions (smooth increase in the depth of the reservoir, no holes in areas for classes with children and beginners, sufficient depth for jumping into the water, the absence of foreign objects at the bottom that threaten injuries), as well as limiting the speed of the current. The use of natural water bodies with a flow velocity of more than 0.5 m/s must be agreed with local sports societies and organizations.
Sections of a natural reservoir intended for swimming, swimming, diving and water polo are limited around the perimeter by fences on piles, pontoons, and rafts. The requirements for the size and depth of the bottom of pools in natural reservoirs are the same as for the baths of artificial bulk pools.
Fig.4. Location of outdoor pools at a natural reservoir.
a - in a reservoir; b - near the reservoir; in - near a reservoir;
1 - swimming pool; 2 - beach; 3 - diving tower; 4 - filter; 5 - water flow from the pool.
The equipment of water areas for competitions on racing ships consists in marking the start and finish lines and marking the distance with buoys, floats, balls and other signs, as well as in the installation of fixed starting rafts or bridges for judges with telephone communication between the start, finish and the premises of the chief judge. The water station complex has a territory divided into zones - areas intended for practicing various sports. Upstream there are pools for swimming, diving and water polo, below there are moorings for rowing and motor boats.
The main element of the boat station is the berth for boats, the width of which should be about 2 m for one-sided and at least 3 m for two-sided fastening of boats. For academic boats, the width of the berth is 5 m. The length of the berths depends on the number and size of boats and is determined at the rate of 1.5 m per boat and an additional 10 m for the approach and departure of boats. The surface of the berth for boats is arranged 0.8 m above the water level in the reservoir, and the platform for direct access to the boats is 0.15-0.2 m above the water.
On reservoirs with stagnant or slowly flowing water, with a constant or slightly changing level, berths that go into the water at a right angle to the shore are most convenient. On reservoirs with strong currents, moorings are usually placed along the shore. On water with a sharply variable level and in places of strong ice drifts, a floating raft-berth is arranged. The length of the berth for eights, if it stands at right angles to the water, is at least 15 m, if the berth is located along the coast - 11 m. The distance between two berths should be at least 8-10 m. When boats approach from one side of the pier, its width 2 m is accepted, and on both sides - 4 m. However, the width of the berth is determined primarily by considerations of reliability, safety and possible load on it. The frames of the boats should not be found on the boards of the berths, and the lower step of the pier is made sloping towards the water in order to soften the impact of the boat. Floating moorings at a variable water level are connected to the shore by removable gangways.
On the shore, in addition to the administrative premises, first-aid post, buffet and other facilities, there is a boathouse designed for storing boats, the size of which depends on the number and size of boats. Vessels in the shed are placed in several tiers on brackets. The descent of boats to the water is carried out along a slip - an inclined plane with guides.
Sailing stations require certain conditions when they are created: the necessary depth, the convenience of parking ships and protection from wind and waves. They consist of a complex, including a harbor for ships, and coastal facilities - a boathouse, a workshop, a rest room, a canteen, a sports pavilion, sports grounds, etc.
Yacht harbors are built on the water, enclosing the site with a breakwater and storm protection of the entrance, or using bays protruding into the coast with a depth of about 1.2 m (Fig. 5). Harbors should be equipped with shelters for mooring yachts. Vessels are pulled out of the water for winter storage and delivered to the winter boathouse along the rail tracks.
Rice. 5. Harbors for yachts.
a - with a pier; b - coastal; 1 - entrance to the harbor; 2 - harbor; 3 - yacht club; 4 - boathouse.
Rowing and sailing boats may be part of a complex of water stations, which often also include pools for non-swimmers and diving compartments. The water station is located, as a rule, in the bay, where the speed of water movement is not more than 0.5 m/s. The bottom relief should be calm with a slope of no more than 1:5, the depth of the reservoir should be within 1-5 m.
Artificial reservoirs and pools.
City ponds are arranged on natural channels and ravines by blocking them with dams or by creating digging ponds. Depending on the terrain, the longitudinal slope of the bottom of a stream or ravine, and the general planning solution, separate ponds and cascades of several ponds located one after another with different water surface marks can be built in the park.
Ponds differ in terms of food sources and degree of flow. Flowing ponds are fed by streams, rivers, spring water. Non-flowing ponds have not only natural sources of supply, for example, groundwater with a constant water level, but also artificial ones, i.e. with the filling of ponds with water pumped from other reservoirs or, with appropriate justification, from the city water supply network. Ponds can also be filled with surface water runoff, provided they are cleaned. Food sources play a significant role in determining the location of reservoirs, water surface area, depth and their purpose.
The creation of parks with large artificial reservoirs in wetlands is quite widespread, which makes it possible to drain the territory, significantly improve and improve the environment, and use unsuitable territories for urban planning purposes.
When designing reservoirs, the following issues are resolved: arrangement of the reservoir bowl, taking into account the established mark of its water surface; determination of the design of strengthening the shore of the reservoir; arrangement of coastal and underwater parts of the beach; arrangement of spillways; improvement of the coastline.
Depending on the purpose, the ponds have different depths. When using ponds for swimming and bathing, a depth of up to 2 m is required. If the reservoir is supposed to be used for jumping into the water, then the diving tower should have a depth of at least 4.5 m. conditions for the reproduction of the malarial mosquito, the depth of the reservoir along the coast is at least 0.8 - 1 m with a gradual increase over the first 5 m to 1.8 - 2 m. Thus, the bottom of the pond is designed with a slope of 1:5.
The outline of the coastline can be varied depending on the relief and purpose of the pond. The length of the coastline should be sufficient to accommodate beaches, moorings for boats, water stations and other facilities required by planning decisions.
Ponds often serve as the basis for the architectural and planning solution of the park and play the role of elements that reveal the composition of the park. Sometimes water can act as a fence. In cases where ponds are created by deepening and expanding streams, rivers in low areas, the soil taken out of the pit is placed on the shore to make it picturesque. Walking paths are laid around the pond.
Great importance is attached to the creation of the bowl of the pond. When designing its longitudinal and transverse profiles, the elevation of the water table, the relief of the existing surface and geological conditions are taken into account. The vertical layout of the bottom of the reservoir bowl is carried out taking into account the requirements for the operation of the reservoir. The bottom is designed in such a way that water drainage is provided.
If it is necessary to build an artificial reservoir in an area with permeable soils, it is necessary to create a waterproof screen. A layer of 0.3-0.5 m of crumpled clay or fatty loam, evenly covering the entire bed of the reservoir, practically prevents water from filtering into the ground. 0.15-0.2 cm of sand surcharge should be poured onto clay. For the same purposes, it is possible to use anti-filtration coatings in the form of various films (asphalt-concrete, bituminous, from rolled waterproofing) on a concrete base. Types of waterproofing of the bed of reservoirs are shown in fig. 6.
Rice. 6. Types of waterproofing of the bed of reservoirs.
1 - sand surcharge; 2 - crumpled clay; 3 - compacted soil; 4 - fatty loam;
5 - sandy asphalt concrete; 6 - concrete M200; 7 - sand preparation;
8 - two layers of hydroisol on hot bituminous mastic; 9 - spraying with concrete MZOO;
10 - waterproofing with bituminous emulsion for 2 times; 11 - the bottom of the reservoir.
Coastal slopes of ponds are planned with a steepness of 1:1.5 or 1:2. The banks of the reservoirs are being strengthened. The purpose of bank protection measures is to strengthen the shore of the reservoir from the effects of water and ice and create conditions to prevent the overgrowing of the coastal strip by underwater vegetation.
The fastening of the banks of the pond can have various design solutions depending on the natural conditions and the purpose of the embankment. The simplest of them are sowing grasses, sodding, planting shrubs and brushwood lining, continuous filling of stone.
Ponds located on streams, rivers and ravines are created using dams, usually earthen. On the top of the dam, a passage is arranged, which serves to connect the banks. Earth dams are constructed from local, sufficiently impermeable soils or with a waterproof screen and core. Dam slopes are taken from 1:1.5 to 1:3.5.
During the construction of pressure reservoirs, it is technologically necessary to install dams, dams, and spillways. These engineering structures play an important role in the composition of reservoirs. Low overflow concrete dams, each of which has a different form of water discharge device, allow the water level in the river to rise and form a system of bathing ponds. Excess water overflows over spillway dams, which have a decorative effect and improve the microclimate.
Reservoirs are equipped with spillway structures that ensure the preservation of the mark of the water mirror at a given level, as well as the possibility of passing flood waters. To lower the level during the exchange of water in the summer, as well as to completely empty the bowl of the reservoir when cleaning it from deposits of silt and dirt, water outlets are created. When emptying the bowl of the reservoir, water can be drained into the storm sewer network. There are various spillway schemes for spillway structures designed to pass flood waters and regulate the water horizon in a reservoir: a spillway with a frontal spillway, with a bucket spillway, with a spillway chamber with a bottom outlet.
In reservoirs formed with the help of pressure dams, the outline of the banks is determined by the relief and the elevation of the crest of the dam. The shore of the reservoir will repeat the outline of the contour lines. Therefore, when designing a reservoir, it is possible to indicate quite accurately at what level of the surface the water mirror will receive the desired shape; whether there will be a rugged outline of the coast with bays and islands, or, conversely, the reservoir will have a calm outline of the coast.
For all types of bank protection works around the reservoir, a walking path is provided, which serves to organize the removal of surface water with release into a pond or into a drainage network.
Digging ponds are arranged in parks, gardens, boulevards in any, including flat, terrain. Digging ponds are filled with water from other reservoirs or from the city water supply network, and sometimes they are filled with water from treated surface runoff. To maintain a constant water level in the banks of these ponds, overflow pipes are arranged, and for complete emptying - drain pipes. These pipes are connected to the city drainage system.
City ponds must be cleared of sediment. Silting of ponds occurs as a result of the sedimentation of sediments brought by surface runoff waters. To maintain appropriate cleanliness and depth, the ponds are periodically cleaned. Large ponds are cleaned with excavators, and small ones - after emptying - with excavators.
Outdoor pools also belong to artificial urban reservoirs: for swimming, educational, sports, health-improving, decorative, etc. Depending on the size of the bath, pools are small and large, and according to the nature of operation - pools for mass use, for athletes, for jumping into the water, etc.
Pools are the simplest and most common types of water devices located in the microdistrict.
Depending on the purpose of the pool, its location in the microdistrict is determined. Splashing pools are located on playgrounds, decorative, for aquatic plants and fish - on recreation areas, in the garden among trees, lawns and flower beds.
Pools in the microdistrict are usually small in size and have a very simple design; extensions - benches - can be arranged on board. The area around the pool is filled with gravel.
The dimensions of the area of the water surface of the pools are determined by their purpose, their location and range from a few square meters (for plants and fish) to tens and hundreds of square meters (water parterres). The dimensions of the pool should not exceed 1/5-1/6 of the dimensions of the space surrounding the pool.
The outline of the pools can be very diverse, it is determined depending on the architectural solution of the site. The most common are rectangular pools.
Recently, pools of broken or curvilinear shape have begun to be widely used.
The areas around the pools are covered with gravel, covered with tiles or sown with grass; asphalting them is undesirable.
The side of the pools is made low (not higher than 10-20 cm) or at ground level. If the pool is located in a recess, then the board is also buried accordingly. On the sides and among the water surface of the pools, groups of stones can be laid, concrete or ceramic vases can be placed. Along the entire side or its parts, sometimes widenings are made in the form of benches, and only in exceptional cases, in the pools located in the front parts of microdistricts in front of buildings for cultural and community purposes, a sculpture is installed.
There are pools that have one or more water jets. Such a pool-fountain differs from the usual one in that the dimensions of its bowl significantly exceed the area on which the water falls. The composition of this water device is always dominated by the surface of the water of the pool, and not by the jet of the fountain. The point of jet ejection can be decorated with one or more stones protruding above the surface of the water, or pipe nozzles can be given a modern pattern.
More economical and more beautiful, however, if the jet hits directly from the water; the decoration of the ejection of the jet with complex, expensive vases and sculptures is irrational and out of date.
With small pools, it is good when the water is thrown out in a low, bubbling jet.
In some cases, the water surface of the pool can be divided into several parts by the device of transitions or islands. The mirror of the pool can also be dissected by the device of one, less often several islands. The islands are covered with stones, grass or trees and shrubs are planted on them.
The walls, sides and bottom of the pools are made of concrete, brick, prefabricated reinforced concrete elements. They can be faced with concrete tiles, ceramics, multi-colored glazed tiles, gravel, bricks. At the bottom, stylized images of marine animals, fish, flowers or modern geometric patterns can be lined with colored mosaics or stones.
To grow water plants, including water lilies, a recess is made in the bottom of the pool, where a metal mesh basket is inserted, which can be removed for inspection and cleaning of plant roots, as well as for their winter storage. For growing water plants of various types, it is advisable to make a pool of unequal depth.
With limited funds for constructing a pool for aquatic plants, cheaper devices can be used - wooden barrels or a film laid along the walls and bottom of a dug pit in several layers, in addition, small stones and a little greasy soil are laid on the bottom.
For fish in the bottom or in the lower part of the wall of the pool, recesses are arranged - nests.
At present, small pools (from 130 to 1500 liters) have appeared from new building materials - asbestos cement and plastic. These prefabricated pools are installed on site with minimal labor. Tiles are usually laid around them.
splash pools. Bathing and playing with water is one of the conditions for the physical and spiritual development of children. Water is one of the most important elements in a modern playground. If it has a splash pool, water field, boat channels or other water activities, it is the main attraction for children.
Water devices for children vary in nature, size, shape and depth depending on the conditions of a given microdistrict, the number and age of children for whom they are intended. The combination of water and sand - a paddling pool and a sandbox - is especially valuable for children under 7 years old.
Pools and sandboxes in the yards of residential groups are arranged in such a way that mothers, if possible, can watch their children play from the windows of their apartments.
For older children, active games with water are of particular importance, and therefore it is better to make pools for kids isolated from older children or to allocate a separate independent part of a common area or pool for them.
In large cities, children are most often cut off from the water, and especially from natural reservoirs, so here various water devices, in particular, children's splash pools, are of particular value.
The paddling pools are used on hot summer days for children to swim and play in the water; in autumn and spring - only for playing with water (construction of water mills, launching boats, etc.); in winter time - for the device of children's skating rinks. splash pool- this is the place where children get rid of the fear of water and make their first attempts to swim.
Plunging pools are placed on playgrounds in the yard or in the garden. If it is impossible to locate a platform with a pool at a sufficient distance from residential buildings, then it is surrounded by a dense strip of trees and shrubs that absorb noise and at the same time protect the pool from dust and sand raised by the wind. It is good to pour sand around splashing pools. The combination of water and sand is the ideal playground for children.
The walls of the splash pool, as a rule, should not protrude more than 10-15 cm above the ground.
The area of the pool, with its maximum filling, is set at the rate of 1 m2 of water surface for each child. In small pools, the water heats up excessively, and in conditions of mass use of them, it is desirable to have a pool area of at least 40-50 m2.
The configuration of the paddling pool can be any, but most often the pools are arranged in a rectangular, square or round shape. More picturesque is the paddling pool of a complex shape, strictly linked to the general layout and nature of the composition of the surrounding area.
The bottom of the pool is made slightly inclined towards the middle or towards one of the sides. In such a pool with gradually increasing depth, children can play without supervision. The slope of the bottom is made no more than 5%, with a larger slope, the children will slip and fall.
The minimum (at the entrance to the pool) depth is assumed to be 10-15 cm, the maximum - 30 cm. Increasing the depth of the pool by more than 40 cm is undesirable due to the danger of using it by young children and the impossibility of heating the water with the sun's rays. Where the depth is significant, for small children, an additional side is made along the edge 20-30 cm high from ground level. For big children they make gatherings.
With a significant size of the children's splashing pool, islands, water slides, bollards for jumping, figured showers can be arranged in it.
Islands are created in the form of playgrounds where children can relax or start games. The islands are home to the simplest kind of concrete game sculptures. Islands can also be made in the form of a hill of stones.
Cheerful revival in children's games is brought by bollards for jumping into the water, as well as "water" slides at the side of the pool. Water slides are most often made of reinforced concrete and metal pipes. The slope of the water slide, covered with plastic, should have a width of 60-80 cm, sides - a height of 10-12 cm.
Among the water surface of splashing pools, showers with vertical, horizontal or oblique jets are often installed.
The simplest sculptures of marine animals are also used with great joy by children for games. With small pool sizes, it is better to place all additional devices and elements for games not in the middle of the pool, but at one of its sides, which will give more freedom for playing in the pool itself, as well as when using the pool for a children's skating rink.
Most splash pools are built from precast or cast-in-situ reinforced concrete. Due to the shallow depth, pools can be made more simply - from brick or rubble. From the inside, the pool is covered with mosaics, rough or corrugated tiles with asphalt, or rubbed with cement.
Light and bluish mosaics and tiles give the pool an elegant look. When grouted with cement or asphalt, the pool has a darker color, but it is easier to perform. The inner edges of the pool should be slightly rounded for easy cleaning.
In order to avoid the destruction of the walls and bottom of the pool during freezing and heaving of clay soils, if possible, pools should be located on sandy, well-draining soils. In the presence of clay soils, it is necessary to lay a layer of gravel, crushed stone or slag under the bottom of the pool and provide for the drainage of water into the drainage network or storm sewer network.
Plastic splash pools can be portable or stationary.
Each pool must have a water supply and outlet for its filling, cleaning and temperature control with connection to the city water supply and sewerage. If the pool is large, then water inlets are made in several places. The inlet pipe is installed at the level of the water surface, the leaves and litter are driven into one corner by the flow of water, which greatly speeds up and facilitates the cleaning of the pool. Another way to supply water to the pool is to inlet it with a wide front, around the perimeter. The water is discharged into the sewer. Excess water must be removed through a special overflow pipe. The overflow device also ensures the removal of small floating litter from the surface.
It is necessary to pay serious attention to the sanitary and hygienic side of the operation of children's splash pools, especially if they are placed in the courtyards of the microdistrict. First of all, the pool must be filled with tap water, as it is always purified.
It is recommended to drain the water from the splash pool completely, rinse the pool and fill it with fresh water. Due to the small capacity of such pools, this will not require significant costs and troubles.
On days of intensive use of the pool, it is better to change the water. 2-3 times a day, or provide water flow with periodic opening of the inlet and outlet, on hot summer days this will not cause a significant drop in water temperature.
To maintain the purity of the water around the pool, it is necessary to provide a strip of slabs 1-1.5 m wide. You should not make a lawn directly by the pool, since it is difficult to keep the entry and exit points in proper order - the grass does not withstand constant wetting and trampling.
Artificial reservoirs are structures that are designed to solve water problems in the regions of each state. They have a significant impact on the adjacent territories, creating a complex system of connections, as a result of which new natural complexes are formed. Their importance is difficult to overestimate. Since ancient times, people have been building artificial ponds to meet their household needs, and a little later they began to decorate their estates and gardens with them, turning it into a whole art.
Classification
A reservoir of unnatural origin is a stable or temporary accumulation of water in an artificial lowland. The water in it has no movement, or there is a barely noticeable mobility. Depending on the relief of the territory and the purpose of the water body, its external shape, the outline of the coastline, depth and width may be different. Based on the same factors, food can be supplied through surface runoff, pumping unit, groundwater and combination.
Reservoirs are classified:
- by design features (combined, dam reservoirs, dug, small);
- by purpose (multifunctional, household, sports, decorative, recreational);
- by location (in a recess, slope, in riverbeds, floodplain, watershed, and others).
In total, three main groups of artificial reservoirs are subdivided: reservoirs (volume from 1 million cubic meters), ponds (volume no more than 1 million cubic meters) and pools, which are characterized by complete regulation of the water regime and isolation from the external environment.
reservoirs
Constant seasonal fluctuations in the level of river water necessitated the construction of reservoirs. This name of an artificial reservoir speaks for itself - an object for storing water. In size, it can be compared to a large lake and is created in river valleys by building a dam to block the riverbed.
The reservoir is characterized by the following features:
- seasonal fluctuations in water levels, rising in autumn and spring and falling in winter and summer;
- cool water (compared to lake water) due to constant flow;
- with regard to rivers, early freezing of small reservoirs and later of large ones, the convergence of ice in both cases is observed much later than near rivers;
- water contains a large amount of dissolved minerals;
- the composition of the reservoir, in addition to the bowl, includes a dam and a water treatment plant.
The water of this group of reservoirs is in a small mobility, keeping the slow movement of the river current.
Ponds
The creation of ponds is quite widespread: in city parks, on private property plots, in gardens or cottages. Their first analogues were noted back in the ancient states of the Middle East, when the construction of these objects assumed a purely practical significance.
Ponds are artificial reservoirs with a small water surface area (up to 1 square kilometer) created for decorative, technical or economic purposes. They are built on natural channels, sloping hollows or by dug depressions on the surface of the earth. They are divided according to the type of nutrition: natural (groundwater, precipitation) and artificial (water supply, wells). Depending on their purpose, ponds can have different depths and lengths of the coastline.
Artificial reservoir for swimming
Swimming pools are the simplest and most common group of water facilities built for swimming, as well as sports, health and educational activities. In addition, pools and decorative ones are also determined. Their appearance can be of very different forms - depending on the allocated territory and the adopted architectural solution. The bottom, sides and walls of such reservoirs are made of concrete and brick and lined with facing material (ceramics, glazed tiles).
The pools are completely isolated from the external environment, so the circulation of water will be provided by the installed system of pumps and filters. The grounds around the bowl of the object are mainly tiled, gravel or sown with certain grasses.
Design
The design of an artificial reservoir will directly depend on its type and type. Based on this, it will either have strict simple forms (reservoirs), or more free outlines (ponds). In addition to the main groups of artificial water objects, there are others where there is truly no limit to the creative thought of the designer.
Waterfall - water falling from a height, is one of the original elements of landscape design. Such a reservoir is an excellent solution for placement on a site with uneven terrain.
A fountain is a simple or complex structure where water is thrown up or sideways from an established source.
Cascade - a group of small reservoirs located at different levels. The peculiarity of their device is that in a closed system, water from the reservoir of the upper level flows down.
Mini-reservoir - water in a small container, decorated with live plants, river stones and other decorative elements.
A stream is a body of water decorated as a natural element. It is local and freely fits in any part of the territory.
A swamp is a reservoir that will look good and natural in any part of the garden and park next to a rockery or an alpine slide.
- In the Russian state, during the reign of Peter the Great, the construction of artificial reservoirs in estates and estates was highly welcomed and was a good form. For this purpose, wealthy aristocrats invited from abroad the best masters of their craft, Italian and French designers.
- The largest artificial reservoir for swimming is the pool of the resort of San Alfonso del Mar on the southern coast of Chile (the city of Algarrobo). Its length is more than a kilometer, and its area is 8 hectares.
- The first mention of the experience of building an artificial reservoir is contained in the manuscripts of the Ancient East.
- Abraham Pond, formed after the construction of a dam on the North Saskatchewan River, attracts crowds of travelers. Its magic manifests itself in winter: methane bubbles, rising to the surface, freeze and form amazingly picturesque pictures.
- The first reservoirs in Russia were built in 1701-1709 during the construction of the Vyshnevolotsk water system.
Tell me, what are the reservoirs? They planned to make a pond in the country. In the process of work, the children decided to improve their level of knowledge. They demand that I explain to them where the water comes from in the reservoirs, and what kind of water we will have. And somehow I forgot everything, it would not hurt to update my knowledge.
Water is one of the basic conditions for life, and it does not matter for whom or what. Flowers and trees, birds and animals, and even you and I cannot survive without water. No wonder water bodies occupy most of the planet Earth. Many summer residents also dream of a small pond on their site in order to be closer to nature. Did you know that the ocean is also a body of water, only a very large one? Today we will briefly talk about what reservoirs are and how they differ.
A body of water is all water bodies, regardless of their size, which are formed in depressions of different sizes on land. Depending on the type of reservoirs, the movement of water is completely absent in them, or it is very slow and unstable.
Reservoirs can be natural (formed as a result of natural phenomena) and artificial (created by man).
Types of natural reservoirs
Natural water bodies include:
- ocean;
- sea;
- lakes;
- big ponds.
The river is also a natural body of water but, since it has a constant flow, it belongs to watercourses.
Lakes can be fresh or salty if they are filled with stagnant water and mineral deposits accumulate at the bottom. But the water in natural ponds is always only fresh, although in size they are more like small lakes.
What are artificial reservoirs
Artificial reservoirs are:
- Reservoirs. They can be of large volume, dammed - erected on watercourses and designed to regulate channel flow. They are filled mainly due to the surface runoff of water. There are also dug reservoirs, when a pit is dug in the ground and artificially filled with water. Their size is much more modest than that of dam reservoirs.
- . These are the same reservoirs, but only with a smaller volume of water. Depending on the method of creation, they can be fed by river runoff, groundwater, or completely artificially filled.
- Pools. These are ponds of small volumes with lining of the bottom and sides, the water regime of which is completely regulated by man.
The listed reservoirs are permanent, but there are also temporary ones. They arise as a result of floods of large rivers and are called oxbow lakes.
Thus, we came to the conclusion that our favorite country ponds and fountains are also reservoirs created artificially. Most often, the purpose of their creation is a decorative decoration of the site. But, if you wish, you can always create an entire ecosystem in the ponds by populating with fish and planting plants.
Video about what reservoirs are
water devices
In a landscape gardening facility, water bodies have one of the important architectural, aesthetic and health-improving values, since together with plantings they purify the air from dust, lower its temperature on a hot summer day (by 3–5 ° C), increase relative humidity ( by 20-30%), i.e. they create a kind of microclimate that increases the vitality of a person. In addition, the presence of water bodies improves the condition of the green spaces themselves. But any pond requires constant care. In the reservoirs of landscape gardening objects in the summer-autumn period, it is necessary to regulate the exchange of water at least 2–4 times. The depth of the reservoir in the spring and summer should be at least 1.5 m.
Improvement of natural reservoirs
The natural reservoirs of the garden and park object include rivers, lakes, ponds, channels, the main types of improvement of which are slope fixing and bottom cleaning.
There are several ways of fastening slopes, when choosing which special attention should be paid to the aesthetic perception of the technical structure.
The most difficult in technical execution is the fastening of slopes of lakes, flowing ponds and embankments of watercourses.
The stability of the slopes is ensured by the installation of a low banquet wall, reaching the middle water line, with a continuous sheet pile wooden or reinforced concrete row of piles, which excludes the washing out of soil from the bottom of the slope during wave formation. Such a low anchorage makes it possible not to violate the biological relationship between aquatic and coastal vegetation and the normal life of waterfowl inhabiting inland waters. The surface of the slope above the banquet wall is also reinforced with various materials to prevent the effects of precipitation, temperature fluctuations, periodic rises in water, wind or ship waves. As a rule, herbal clothes are used in such cases.
Within the boundaries of water rises, slopes must be reinforced with masonry, reinforced concrete tiles with holes for plant soil and sowing seeds, or with continuous sodding.
The slopes of canals, rivers and streams in the forested area are fastened in simple ways:
● planting twigs or willow shoots;
● single planting of cuttings or shoots in a checkerboard pattern.
In the first case, in the spring, rods 1.5–2 m long are laid horizontally in pre-prepared grooves arranged in parallel rows and covered with vegetable soil. The distance between the rows is 1–2 m. The rods are reinforced with stakes 0.8–1 m long.
Driving them 4/5 of the length into the soil of the slope. During the month, regular watering is carried out - first daily, and then after 2-3 days. In the first year (autumn), grown plants are pruned “on a stump”.
In the second case, cuttings and shoots of willow or poplar are planted in prepared soil in a checkerboard pattern. The landing technique and the technology of subsequent care for them are common. Distance in rows and between rows - 0.8 m.
Cleaning the bottom of natural reservoirs is carried out in two ways: with pumping water from the entire reservoir and without pumping.
When cleaning in the first way with electric or diesel pumps, all water is pumped into another reservoir or into a storm sewer, for which a depression is arranged at the lowest slope of the bottom of the reservoir - a "pit" - for water intake. The surface freed from water is left for several days to dry, then the bottom silt is raked to the edges of the reservoir and moved to storage sites, where after a year of ventilation it can be used for landscaping purposes. The cleaned bottom of the reservoir is leveled according to the design marks and covered with a layer of drainage material - coarse sand or gravel - at least 20 cm thick. The banks are fixed using one of the methods described above; on the territories adjacent to them, paths are laid, platforms, structures and small architectural forms are placed. Existing green spaces, if necessary, are supplemented with new plantings and flower beds.
In the second way (without pumping water), the reservoir is cleaned with the help of dredges and dredgers of different sizes. The choice of brands of mechanisms and methods of moving silt pulp depend on the size of the reservoir and its depth.
An artificial reservoir created on the site will significantly increase the comfort of the garden, enrich the landscape and increase the value of the property. In modern conditions, territories for gardens and parks are usually represented by waste lands, peat bogs, swamps and landfills, where artificial lakes, ponds, pools and streams can be built.
The basis for the construction of a reservoir can be natural depressions on the surface of the site, which, when deepened, become the bottom of the lake, in the center of which a channel is made with slopes from the water supply source to the water intake. The latter may be an underlying body of water or a storm sewer network. The shores of the lake and their outlines are subject to external
Landscape environment and emphasize its main viewpoints or contribute to their comprehensive review.
The profile of the shores should have pronounced relief drops: a hill, stone ridges and ledges with closely approaching dark coniferous and dark-leaved plantations on the northern side of the lake and low vast lawn spaces with separate groups of freely growing trees and shrubs on the southeastern side. This combination of relief and vegetation makes it possible to solve the spatial illumination of the water surface. The dimensions of the lake, the methods of its arrangement and feeding are accepted by a special project, which can be carried out by a specialized organization.
Ponds are arranged on the folds of the relief, where surface runoff collects. On a flat surface, they are created by digging a three-dimensional pit and directing the slopes of the surface towards it with a general vertical planning of the site.
Ponds are bodies of water with a smaller area than lakes; they are intended for swimming, boating, breeding waterfowl and fish.
The pond includes a power source - conduits for artificial feeding with melt and rainwater, specially equipped hydraulic structures in a dam or earthen slope: drain pipes, stop valves designed to replace water and clean the reservoir. The construction of modern ponds is carried out according to technical working projects based on in-depth study and application of the studies.
Ponds are distinguished by power sources, which determine not only their location, but also the area of the water surface, the depth and conditions for their further operation and maintenance. They can be flowing, while rivers, streams, spring or ground waters will be their power sources, and stagnant, when city water conduits or water flows from other water bodies by gravity or forcibly, as well as surface water runoff.
Ponds can be single or combined with others to form an entire water system with a depth of at least 1 m near the coast and up to 4.5 m in the middle with a slope of 1:5 from the coastline. Such parameters of the pond prevent the rapid overgrowing of the reservoir with algae and sedge, which contributes to the development of mosquito larvae, silting of the bottom, flowering of the water surface and the appearance of an unpleasant pungent smell of rotting vegetation.
When digging a pond bowl with excavators or bulldozers, the soil is used for vertical planning of the territory. The bottom of the reservoir is given design slopes to ensure self-draining of water through the drain holes. When constructing a pond bed, special attention is paid to preventing water from filtering through it into the ground. The impermeability of the pond bed is ensured by the presence of banded clays at its base. If the base consists of permeable soils (sand, sandy loam), then its waterproofing is required. The easiest and most affordable way is to build a clay base, or "castle".
After laying out the bed of the bowl, crumpled clay, “clay dough” or fatty loam is laid on its surface with a layer of 0.3–0.5 m with layer-by-layer (0.15–0.2 m) compaction with a rammer. The clay layer should extend 0.4–0.5 m above the water's edge in order to waterproof the banks.
On top of the waterproof clay coating - the "castle" - a gravel surcharge with a layer thickness of 4-5 cm is arranged, which is sunk into the clay with a rammer, turning it into a dense gravel base. Further, a layer of coarse-grained sand up to 15 cm thick is laid on the surface. Such waterproofing provides almost complete water tightness of the pond bed. For small ponds, it is possible to use continuous laying on a clay base instead of a gravel-sand surcharge of cobblestone (according to the principle of a cobblestone pavement). Simultaneously with the waterproofing work, a drain device is installed.
Another way to waterproof the bed and walls for small pond sizes is to install roofing or roofing felt on bitumen along the bottom.
On a carefully planned and compacted soil base, the bed is laid with one or two layers of roofing felt or roofing material overlapping, with one sheet overlapping with another by 8–10 cm and puttying these seams with heated bitumen.
With a two-layer coating, the surface of the first layer of insulating material after laying on the base is covered with heated bitumen and a second layer of insulating material is laid on it in a perpendicular direction. The seams formed between the layers are coated with bitumen. Insulation layers are brought to the coastline 0.4–0.5 m above the water's edge, their ends are carefully fixed with soil and gravel poured on top. On the insulating coating made in this way, a layer of coarse-grained sand 5 cm thick is poured and leveled.
Ponds located on rivers, streams and ravines are created using impervious earthen dams, wooden or reinforced concrete walls with a spillway device, on top of which driveways or passages are built connecting the banks. Dam slopes - from 1:1.5 to 1:3.5.
There is no sun, but bright ponds,
They stand as cast mirrors,
And bowls of still water
It would seem completely empty
But gardens are reflected in them.
I. A. Bunin
Since vegetable beds began to lose ground in garden plots, giving way to flowerbeds and rabatka, a reservoir in the garden has become a sign of good taste. Fashion, a very, very unceremonious person, invades all spheres of our daily life, and more often we meekly obey her dictates. Modern materials have greatly facilitated the process of creating a reservoir and provided almost unlimited opportunities for realizing your own fantasies, so ponds began to appear everywhere, just like mushrooms after rain. However, in our case, the situation was different. Ponds were not a whim or a tribute to fashion. Low swampy areas needed drainage, and the reservoirs in the garden were intended to remove excess moisture, that is, they acted as an analogue of a conventional drainage ditch. The first small pond was dug by hand. An oblong pit measuring two and a half meters quickly filled with water without our help. Inspired by the success, we called on the help of machinery and dug a pit in the most swampy place of the site, the depth of which reached almost three meters.
The result exceeded all expectations. Firstly, it has become much drier not only in our own possessions, but also among our neighbors, who are also concerned about the problems of land reclamation. Secondly, the excavated soil made it possible to raise the level of the site without additional costs. And thirdly, we became happy owners of two natural reservoirs.
The prospects that opened before me excited my imagination, and I enthusiastically began to explore the coastal zone, completely unaware of the difficulties I would have to face. At that time, my acquaintance with garden ponds was limited to using a ready-made plastic mold, so most of the tricks had to be learned in practice. Fortunately, unexpected problems could not outweigh the advantages of a natural pond, and today we do not regret our decision at all.
A natural pond is, first of all, a great opportunity to grow moisture-loving plants almost without any effort. Most of them are very beautiful, however, placed in an ordinary flower garden, they need frequent watering, which is far from always feasible. The wet shore of the pond allows them to thrive, and the owners will never be visited by obsessive thoughts about the need to leave all other things and run headlong to their pets to quench their thirst. Moreover, you can go on vacation with a clear conscience without fear that upon your return you will find cold, or rather, withered "corpses" in the garden.
daylilies (Hemerocallis) Tradescantia (Tradescantia), Siberian irises (Iris sibirica), window sills (Eupatorium) and many other plants with similar requirements, when planted on the shore, will please you with such a luxuriant bloom, which in less suitable conditions will be very difficult to achieve.
Everyone's Favorite Astilbes (Astilbe) prefer shady corners of the garden. However, in the absence of a suitable place, they can be fearlessly landed on the shore directly under the scorching rays of the sun, and they will feel much better than in dry shade. I have seen this to be true from my own experience. The same applies, for example, to large-leaved brunner varieties. (Brunnera macrophylla), some variegated cultivars of hosta (Hosta) and Japanese primroses (Primula japonica).
Wet, flooded in spring, the coast allows you to enjoy the company of such beauties as hybrids of the xiphoid iris (Iris ensata), which we often call Japanese irises, and in Japan itself they are called hana-shobu. For these plants, the coastal zone is a place of natural growth. Here they can fully demonstrate their exotic, incomparable beauty.
The pond on the site leads to an increase in air humidity, and therefore, to the creation of a special microclimate that is favorable for many garden plants. First of all, for rhododendrons, which in the Moscow region often suffer due to dry air. If you plant them near the pond, while observing all other requirements of agricultural technology, they will find themselves in comfortable conditions and will not hesitate to thank the owners with enchanting flowering.
Unfortunately, coastal landings have their drawbacks. In early spring, when flower beds need to be cleaned as quickly as possible, removing all the garbage accumulated over the winter, this is quite difficult to do. An artificial pond allows you to approach the very edge of the water without interference. On the shores of the natural, there is a risk of getting bogged down ankle-deep and deeper. Work has to be postponed until the pond finally returns to its banks after the spring flood, and excess moisture leaves the soil. In order for the plants in this situation not to interfere with last year's foliage, it is better to cut it in the pre-winter, and, therefore, the volume of autumn work automatically increases.
By the time the shore is dry enough to be stepped on safely, war must be declared immediately against the weeds. Lost time can lead to catastrophic consequences, because in the coastal zone you have to deal with especially malicious aggressors, before whom even sleep fades (Aegopodium podagraria) and wheatgrass (Elytrigia repens). sedges (Carex), cane (Phragmites australis), cattail (Typha latifolia) and common loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) on quite legitimate grounds, they consider themselves the masters of these places and therefore behave extremely unceremoniously. If you give them an indulgence, then after a short time it will be very difficult to get rid of these self-confident impudent ones due to the structural features of their root system and the extremely high growth rate. But the biggest trouble can deliver, perhaps, reeds (Scirpus radicans). Its long shoots are able to give roots even in water, so the new generation of aggressors has to be literally caught before they have time to "feel the ground under their feet." It is not very difficult to do this in a small pond, but in a large and deep one, the reeds turn into a serious problem and threaten to become waterlogged.
On the shore of the pond, weed control is reminiscent of the Hundred Years War, because it is a life-and-death struggle throughout the season. If in other parts of the garden by the end of July a temporary truce can be concluded, then at the edge of the reservoir the battles do not stop until the onset of stable cold weather.
When constructing an artificial pond, it is of paramount importance to carefully decorate its edges, no matter what is used: a plastic mold or a butyl rubber film. A poorly decorated edge will negate all the efforts made and hopelessly spoil the impression.
A natural pond, of course, does not need this, thus demonstrating one of its undeniable advantages. But its banks, in turn, require strengthening. Otherwise, there is a risk one day to be in the water along with a landslide.
Fortunately, this problem can be solved without the use of technical means. “Whoever hinders us will help us,” proclaimed the famous hero of Frunzik Mkrtchyan in The Prisoner of the Caucasus. The already mentioned sedges and the company perfectly hold the coast, preventing its erosion. A reasonable approach helps to turn them from enemies into allies, limiting the distribution of these plants to only a narrow coastal edge. The plantain chastukha copes just as well with this task. (Alisma plantago aquatica) and loosestrife willow (Lythrum salicaria). The latter is also remarkable in that it pleases with lush flowering at the end of summer, when most of the plants of the coastal zone have long faded. Moisture-loving cereals, for example, mannik, should be added to this list. (Glyceria aquatica), double source (Phalaris arundinacea) and magnificent miscanthus (Miscanthus) also prefer moist soils. When in autumn panicles of miscanthus inflorescences, like banners, sway against the background of the water surface and are reflected in the mirror of the pond, it has no equal in beauty and grandeur.
If the coast is flat and too swampy, it is better to use calla (Calla palustris). Over time, it forms dense beautiful thickets, which you will not see in any artificial pond, and clearly defines the boundary between the "firmament of the earth" and the place where it is better not to step in order to avoid trouble.
Other swamp plants will help to mark this border. The choice for a natural pond is very large. Some of them are able to make a lasting impression on your friends and acquaintances. For example, milestone (Cicuta virosa)- the famous hemlock, the poison of which, according to literary sources, Socrates was poisoned. Of course, you should not tell anyone that the Greeks actually meant hemlock (Conium). Let the guests respectfully admire the sophisticated milestone with its graceful feathery leaves and delicate inflorescence umbrella. The milestone is non-aggressive, therefore, unlike the calla, it is perfect for small ponds, but it is still not worth starting it in the garden if there are small children in the family.
Natural ponds have another serious drawback - silting. Over time, the depth of the reservoir can noticeably decrease due to the accumulating bottom sediment, so from time to time the pond needs to be cleaned. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to pump out water. If the reservoir is quite large, then one cannot do without equipment in this difficult matter. A small pond can be cleaned on its own. Every year we choose the time when the weather is dry, hot, we wait until the water level drops as much as possible, and, pulling on our waders, we clean the bottom of our “hole” with a shovel. The “dirt” extracted during this event is an excellent natural fertilizer, which is immediately used in flower beds and garden beds. In addition, seemingly unattractive business turns into unrestrained fun, because adults, willy-nilly, smeared, as if returning to childhood, remembering how they loved to mess around in roadside ditches and puddles, and with a light heart arrange for themselves a real “disobedience holiday” .
But to solve the problem with water purification in a natural pond, in my opinion, is much easier than in an artificial reservoir. In any case, no additional costs will be required for this. Instead of filters, aerators and special additives that prevent "blooming", it is enough to place oxygenator plants in the reservoir. They enrich the water with oxygen, small particles of suspension, which are certainly present in the water, settle on their leaves, so in some ways they can compete with complex and expensive filtration systems. The easiest way to deal with hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum). It is enough to throw his cuttings into the water, and then from time to time thin out the thickets with an ordinary rake, which we do with success. We can also mention pondweed (Potamogeton) and elodea (Elodea) however, the latter should be handled with extreme care. It is not for nothing that this guest from across the ocean is called the “water plague”: the speed with which it captures new territories is amazing.
However, oxygenator plants will most likely settle in a natural pond on their own, without any help. Perhaps they will get there during the spring flood, or maybe birds will bring them, as happened in our case. Birds will certainly appear near the pond, and the larger the area of \u200b\u200bthe reservoir, the higher the probability of seeing guests that are quite rare for the garden.
And here it is time to talk about the main advantage of a natural pond, a dignity so significant that for its sake it is worth not only reconciling with certain inconveniences, but also working hard.
A natural pond is a natural biocenosis located right under the windows of your house. From dawn until late in the evening, when bats begin to silently sweep over the water, grabbing swarming midges, you can observe the life of the reservoir in all its details, every day, making new discoveries and admiring the wonders stored in the piggy bank of nature. Of course, this natural community is influenced by humans, but in this case the influence is not so significant and consists mainly in the introduction of plants unusual for the area. But how many charming "savages" will grow up on the banks without any intervention on your part! Lush meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and gentle, but stubborn nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), delightful archer (Sagittaria sagittifolia) and refined gravel (Geum rivale),"blue-eyed" veronica porucheynaya (Veronica beccabunga) and persistent coined loosestrife (Lysimachia nummularia) spread a golden carpet at your feet. "Weeds!" someone will say dismissively. Well, there is some truth in this, but many of the ornamental plants so beloved by gardeners are also considered weeds in their homeland. Believe me: plants that are sometimes overlooked, once on the shore of the pond, will sparkle with new colors and give your garden a special charm.
Of course, a natural pond creates very favorable conditions for the development of mosquito larvae. But if there are mosquitoes, then there will be beautiful dragonflies with mica wings shimmering in the sun. This means that there will be lively frogs and important toads that will help you in the difficult fight against pests and will announce the spring garden with their friendly chorus. Busy snakes can settle down, and if you do not bother them with excessive attention or empty fears, having settled in, they will also stand up to protect the garden, destroying over-bred mice.
No other garden idea will bring so much genuine joy to a child. Often we forget how difficult it is for a restless inquisitive little man to wander along neat paths among ideal flower beds. A natural pond will occupy his attention, teach him to live in harmony with nature, and help develop such useful qualities as observation and patience.
For several years we live side by side with the muskrat. This tireless beast gives us a lot of trouble, arranging holes under the shore, digging up flower beds, building a system of tunnels. But this is mere trifles compared to the delight of my son, who for the first time saw how silently, like a periscope of a submarine, a mustachioed muzzle emerges from the water.
My restless boy, holding his breath, was sitting on the shore when wild mallards landed on the pond. Frozen, he did not take his eyes off the ducks diving, preening their feathers, and finally falling asleep in the thickets of sedge and marsh iris. As if spellbound, he watched the mating dance of snakes circling in the water, as if the heroes of Bazhov's Ural tales had come to life.
The garden, as you know, is a reflection of the owner. In the mirror of the garden pond, the reflection multiplies, allowing, looking through the Looking Glass, to see different facets of one's own "I". And a natural pond, in which there is nothing superfluous and alien, will certainly help you find your true self again, without glamor and superficial gloss. Just lean over the water and look at your reflection.
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