As a chiropractor, I recommend exercise for all my patients, young and old alike. And, one of the most beneficial, yet easiest on the joints of the body, is swimming. Of course, not everyone lives by the ocean or a lake, or other natural, “swimmable” bodies of water, so swimming pools offer an convenient alternative. Unfortunately, swimming pools, with their use of chlorine, are not only “unnatural,” but they can often effect an individuals health, especially those who suffer from asthma. So, I was very happy to read on discovery.com that there is a community pool in St. Paul, Minnesota, that has switched from chlorine, to “sphagnum moss” to clean its pool water.
What is sphagnum moss? It is a moss that grow in the northern lakes of Minnesota and keeps the lake waters clear. Spagnum moss grows other places and is used for other purposes, but keep pool water clean is a first. The technology was developed by Creative Water Solutions, which is based out of Plymouth, Minnesota. According to founder and CEO, David Knighton, the moss acts to inhibit the growth of microbes in the pool. The moss readily absorbs heavy metals, including iron, which often encourages microbial growth. Without any iron in the water, microbes can’t grow. But, more importantly, Knighton says, the moss also prevents the growth of biofilm, mats of bacteria that stick to pool surfaces and coat the inside of pipes, causing corrosion.
For more on this new development, go to discovery.com