Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.92
Liaison Sally DeLeon
Submission Date Feb. 12, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

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

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Sally DeLeon
Acting Manager
Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk
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A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome :

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.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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