nachtjaeger wrote:For comparison (not counting the water cost): {My apologies: too tired/lazy to think in Metric today}
To fill the theoretical 12,500 gallon pool with clay at seven pounds of clay per 100 pounds (12.5 gallons) of would cost about $7,000 US.
Peat at 1 cubic foot of peat (uncompressed) to 1 gallon (~1 CF) of water would cost about $2,200 US.
Now, buy a nice 500 gallon open-top plastic storage tank (52"' diameter, 60" tall) for $350 US, and the respective costs to fill it would be $280 and $88. Less, actually, since one would have to subtract ones' own volume (and possibly the volume of a partner) so that the tank wouldn't overflow when occupied.
If one owns a home with a back yard, or rents one and the landlord has no objection to you doing a bit of gardening, one can simply dig a hole of appropriate depth, line it with a plastic sheet, and fill with whatever medium one desires. Sometimes just screening the stones out of the natural soil will result in an acceptable mud. Note: digging into a gas main or telephone cable can be quite expensive, and is generally frowned upon by one's neighbors.
I'd love to sit in at the zoning meeting when that item is discussed...
"Now, you know you aren't supposed to install a septic tank in this municipality, Mr. Jaeger..."
"I'm not. It's just a tank filled with water and dirt."
"And for what purpose is this for? You planting something?"
"Hopefully me and my wife!" *laughs*
Silence falls over the zoning board membership.
"Um... but seriously,,, yes, it is just a tank... to hold... dirt... and water.."
"But why?"
"To... sink in..."
"Pardon?"
"Fine... it's a spa, okay? My wife thought mud baths would be good for the skin... and it's too messy to do indoors."
"Why didn't you say so in the first place? But why is it 10 feet deep?"
"Because it's the best damn spa in town!"
