Clean Water

I have an old inground swimming pool which has not been used for years. The water just sits, but  I am looking for a way to clean that water naturally and without much expense enough to make it drinkable for livestock. Mostly to water chickens.  Would something as simple as a pump to aerate the water work?

Well, the chickens I've kept wouldn't mind "dirty" water in the least.
I'm fact, they prefer it over what comes from the tap.
Does your pool have algae growing in it?
If so maybe stock common pleco and Koi to eat it?

Actually stocking fish in a pond generally decreases quality of water, because you want to filter out nutrients (esp. phosphates and nitrates)
to keep the water clean/less habitable for bacteria.

Growing any type of plant (or algae) accumulates nutrients in the plant, which you can subsequently remove to also remove the nutrients.
Search for "Natural Swimming pond" or "Wetland filter" for more information on this.
If you prefer mechanical filters, search for "Slow sand filter".
I peronally think the best filter (because it can basically filter nuclear waste into drinking water) ist the mollison filter, but its complex to implement.

Anyway your chicken should not have direct access to the water, as they tend to pollute it.

R. Han wrote:Actually stocking fish in a pond generally decreases quality of water, because you want to filter out nutrients (esp. phosphates and nitrates)
to keep the water clean/less habitable for bacteria.

Growing any type of plant (or algae) accumulates nutrients in the plant, which you can subsequently remove to also remove the nutrients.
Search for "Natural Swimming pond" or "Wetland filter" for more information on this.
If you prefer mechanical filters, search for "Slow sand filter".
I peronally think the best filter (because it can basically filter nuclear waste into drinking water) ist the mollison filter, but its complex to implement.

Anyway your chicken should not have direct access to the water, as they tend to pollute it.

Would a filter even be necessary if I did something as simple as a fountain or some sort of aeration?

And no, chickens will not have direct access. This is to fill up a tank which is then taken to our pastures.

Expence will be incurred.
Some ideas;
- Convert it to a storage tank https://watercapture.com.au/greywater-and-rainwater-articles/convert-swimming-pool-to-a-rainwater-tank/
- Look at Natural pool systems
- mix fish and plants as discussed

Not an expert by any stretch (though that clearly isn't stopping me!), but what about duckweed?  Maybe combined with the aerator fountain thingy, or bubbler stone, or whatever?  I suspect poultry would eat the duckweed, so two-fer-one - cleaner water and chow?

Well, it's an idea, anyway...

Keep in mind, I am looking at simple solutions, not the most creative and elaborate. That's why my mind just thinks, a simple fountain and throw it in... however I am unsure it that will work. I think it will, but not sure. But I want to stay away from making this a big project. The simplest and cheapest that gets the job done wins.

Focusing on simple, what contamination are trying to alleviate?

William Bronson wrote:Focusing on simple, what contamination are trying to alleviate?

Since the water pretty much just sits in an old pool, my main worry would be anaerobic bacteria, hence my thinking I may be able to get away with just simply adding oxygen. However, my limited knowledge on this, I could be overlooking something else.

There is a lot of dirt that has accumulated over the years and do know some frogs have made there home there. It may be fine as is even, but I didn't want to just give it to the chickens without poking the minds of those who are better educated on this. Occasionally we do a have duck or 2 swimming around in there and I am sure they are drinking it. But just wanted to play it safe before I start filling up chicken waterers.

It would seem you already have aeration firmly in your mind.  

What if you do some water testing now, then start introducing oxygen by whatever means you deem fit.  Let your system work its magic for three weeks and then measure water quality again.  Please let us know about improvements or lack thereof

Rico Loma wrote:It would seem you already have aeration firmly in your mind.  

What if you do some water testing now, then start introducing oxygen by whatever means you deem fit.  Let your system work its magic for three weeks and then measure water quality again.  Please let us know about improvements or lack thereof

Aeration is just my best guess, but I am not even sure if that is what is needed, if it will work, or if I need to do anything at all. But for your test kit recommendation, I am not 100% sure what I should be looking for when testing. I found this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Testing-Drinking-Strips-Hardness-Fluoride/dp/B0CQ1VLX88/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.1ac62dee-1169-4bf4-91b9-84fe33c930b1%3Aamzn1.sym.1ac62dee-1169-4bf4-91b9-84fe33c930b1&crid=26JJFJPW1XT9H&cv_ct_cx=pond+water+test+kit&keywords=pond+water+test+kit&pd_rd_i=B0CQ1VLX88&pd_rd_r=a286321f-5e29-4b4f-a955-0823f7eb780e&pd_rd_w=QJEtd&pd_rd_wg=WOXLO&pf_rd_p=1ac62dee-1169-4bf4-91b9-84fe33c930b1&pf_rd_r=PC5EHWB3G8GKFCRX1E7R&qid=1742817894&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=pond+water+t%2Caps%2C205&sr=1-4-6024b2a3-78e4-4fed-8fed-e1613be3bcce-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1

Would that suffice?

I have seen some pools that have just been sitting unattended that are really nasty.

If that pool is really nasty then cleaning it by emptying it first will be called for.

Once clean taking measure to keep it clean can be daunting.

I like the suggestion of fish and water plants.

Our wildlife prefer to drink out of pools of water on the ground rather than the options that we furnish them.

You could try a water pump and then add a homemade venturi to add air to the mix.
I haven't tried this nor can I vouch for this youtuber - it was the first of many.
You could also try floating plants on top to pull excess nutrients from the pool.
Might even get some produce out of it.
Good luck.  

Keith and Anne are both on target , I believe. Could you post a photo or two please? Draining as a first step is a task you might take on.  Could you possibly talk to your county extension agent about water testing they recommend and/or provide at low cost?

Best of luck to you friend