University of Maryland, College Park
IN-1: Innovation 1

In September 2011, the two indoor pools at the University of Maryland’s Eppley Recreation Center were among the first in the nation to start using sphagnum moss to treat water. In April 2012, the treatment system was applied in the two outdoors pools as well. Sphagnum moss is absorptive and extremely acidic, which makes it excellent for filtering biofilm and inhibiting bacteria. The moss water treatment system works by circulating pool water through chambers of moss and returning filtered water to the pool. The treatment allowed for a 78% reduction in water consumption over the first six months of operation, and creates projected savings of 1 million gallons of water and $46,000 each year. In addition to financial and environmental savings, the moss water treatment system also provides human health benefits as the pool water is clearer, less irritating to the skin and respiratory system, and smells less of chlorine. The practice of super-chlorinating the pools has almost completely stopped, as has the use of some pool chemicals.