Creative Water Solutions
Creative Water Solutions is a Plymouth, Minnesota-based water treatment company that commercializes proprietary Sphagnum moss-based products for industrial facilities, commercial pools and spas, and residential pool and spa owners through direct e-commerce and an authorized dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersPlymouth, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Creative Water Solutions does
Creative Water Solutions, LLC is a Plymouth, Minnesota-based water treatment company that develops and commercializes products based on proprietary Sphagnum moss technology. The company serves three distinct end markets - industrial facilities, commercial pool and spa operators, and residential pool and spa owners - through dedicated product lines: ProMoss for industrial applications (cooling towers, boilers, steam generators, and wastewater systems), PoolMoss Pro for commercial pools, waterparks, and fountains, and PoolMoss and SpaMoss for residential pools and hot tubs. Founded in 2004 by Dr. David Knighton, a vascular surgeon and cellular biologist, and Vance Fiegel, who holds degrees in cellular biology and microbiology, the company traces its origin to approximately five years of prior laboratory research on antimicrobial properties of specific Sphagnum moss species sourced from bogs in New Zealand and northern Minnesota. The legal entity is a Minnesota LLC, the firm is privately held with no disclosed outside funding, and headcount is reported at 1-10 employees.
The core technology centers on proprietary contact chambers in which specific Sphagnum moss species are housed. As water flows through or bathes these chambers, the moss releases a buffer that stabilizes pH and binds positively charged metal ions, which inhibits organic contamination, reduces scale formation, and reduces corrosion in connected equipment and piping. The company holds a registered patent on its offline industrial contact chambers (CC-I80, I90, I140, I150), which use a tumbling action to maximize moss-water interface, and has filed additional patent applications for commercial pool offline chambers (CC-80, 90, 140, 150). Documented customer outcomes include approximately 80% chemical reduction (~6,000 lbs annually) and ~1.5 million gallons of water saved annually at Biogen's Research Triangle Park cooling tower project, greater than 90% bacteria reduction with turbidity decreasing from 17 NTU to 0 NTU during a New York City data center trial, and visible pipe-scale removal exposing bare metal at a tobacco manufacturing air washer system.
The business model combines one-time hardware sales (contact chambers priced from roughly $45 for residential StartNaturally filters to $325 for residential PoolStart chambers and undisclosed enterprise pricing for ProMoss installations) with a recurring consumable stream of monthly moss refill packs (PoolMoss Packs at $43.58, SpaMoss Packs at $10.82). Distribution is dual-channel: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via cwsnaturally.com targets residential buyers, while an authorized global dealer and distributor network - including water treatment service firms, commercial pool service operators, and regional distributors such as Southeastern Laboratories, ISI Water Chemistries, Water Wise, Aquatech of Florida, Precision Chemical, and Main Line Commercial Pools - delivers ProMoss and PoolMoss Pro to commercial and industrial accounts. Logo customers span enterprise manufacturing (Biogen, 3M, Corning, plastics manufacturer, biopharma manufacturing facility), entertainment (Six Flags, Holiday World, Split Rock Resort), education (Macalester College, University of Maryland, RIT), cultural and commercial real estate (Currier Museum of Art, Canal Place One, NYC data center, Track 29 Apartments), and public sector (Highland Park Aquatic Center in St. Paul). The company has positioned its offering explicitly around sustainability, publishing an ESG Flyer in September 2023 and securing Biogen's 2019 EHS Award for Sustainability for the ProMoss cooling tower installation.
Creative Water Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Creative Water Solutions
- Legal name
- Creative Water Solutions, LLC
- Website
- https://cwsnaturally.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Creative Water Solutions is a Plymouth, Minnesota-based water treatment company that commercializes proprietary Sphagnum moss-based products for industrial facilities, commercial pools and spas, and residential pool and spa owners through direct e-commerce and an authorized dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Creative Water Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Treatment Equipment
- akta.pro primary industry
- Whole-House (Point-of-Entry) Water Treatment Systems (CRAJAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Softener, Filtration & Treatment System Installation (HSAOAAAH), Water Softeners & Scale Inhibitors (Residential) (CRAJAJAI)
Keywords
Where Creative Water Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plymouth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Creative Water Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Water Treatment Products: Creative Water Solutions generates revenue through the sale of proprietary water treatment products including ProMoss (industrial), PoolMoss Pro (commercial), and PoolMoss/SpaMoss (residential). Products include reusable contact chambers (one-time purchase) and consumable moss packs (recurring monthly purchases).
- Consumable Moss Refills: Monthly moss refills (ProMoss, PoolMoss, SpaMoss) create recurring revenue from existing customers. Moss should be changed monthly for optimal results, creating predictable repurchase cycles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | StartNaturally Filter - $45.14 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SpaMoss Pack - $10.82 |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | PoolStart Contact Chambers - $140.02 to $325.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PoolStart Lid - $27.38, O-Ring - $12.88, Base - $12.88 |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | PoolStart Installation Kit - $74.99 |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | CC-STxS Contact Chamber - $109.99 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PoolMoss Packs - $43.58 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | WinterMoss - Call for quote |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Creative Water Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Creative Water Solutions develops and sells proprietary Sphagnum moss-based water treatment systems for industrial, commercial, and residential applications. The company's offerings include reusable contact chambers (one-time purchase) and consumable moss refill packs (recurring monthly) that condition water by removing positively charged metal ions, inhibiting organic contamination, stabilizing pH, and reducing scale and corrosion in cooling towers, boilers, pools, spas, and water features.
Product overview
Creative Water Solutions offers a portfolio of natural water treatment products using Sphagnum moss technology across three market segments: Industrial (ProMoss™), Commercial (PoolMoss® Pro), and Residential (PoolMoss®, SpaMoss®). The core technology involves placing moss inside proprietary contact chambers that replicate natural bog conditions, treating water by reducing organic contamination, stabilizing pH, and binding metal ions. Products range from industrial-scale ProMoss™ systems for cooling towers and boilers, to commercial PoolMoss® Pro for pools/spas/waterparks, to consumer PoolStart™ and SpaStart™ kits with associated moss refills and accessories. All products work by allowing moss to interact with water through contact chambers, with moss typically changed monthly.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ProMoss: Industrial water treatment product using Sphagnum moss for cooling towers, boilers, steam generators, wastewater systems, and spray injector systems. Helps reduce corrosion, scale formation, and organic contamination.
- PoolMoss
- SpaMoss
- WinterMoss
- Breakaway
- StartNaturally
Products and services
- ProMoss Industrial water treatment product using Sphagnum moss to remove corrosion and scale, inhibit organic contamination, and prolong equipment life with reduced chemical usage. Used in cooling towers, boilers, steam generators, wastewater systems, and spray injector systems at manufacturing plants, data centers, and commercial buildings.
- PoolMoss Pro Commercial-grade Sphagnum moss water treatment product for pools, spas, waterparks, fountains, and ponds at hotels, resorts, waterparks, apartment complexes, fitness centers, schools, and municipal aquatic facilities. Works inside proprietary contact chambers to reduce organic contamination, stabilize pH, and bind metal ions.
- PoolMoss Residential pool water treatment using Sphagnum moss consumed monthly. Reduces chemicals, stabilizes pH, decreases maintenance time, and decreases water transition time. Used with PoolStart contact chambers for pools up to 40,000 gallons or over 80,000 gallons.
- SpaMoss Residential spa water treatment using Sphagnum moss. Creates fresh, clear, foam-free spa water without chlorine odor, skin irritation, or itchy skin. Use one pack per month for spas up to 450 gallons, two packs for larger spas.
- WinterMoss Winter pool treatment using PoolMoss Pro technology. Added to pool water before covering for the season to improve water quality over winter and make spring startup easier.
- Breakaway Flush Filter cleaning solution that removes organic contamination from particulate filters, spa surfaces, and pool surfaces. Helps prepare pools and spas for moss treatment and decreases water transition time.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% chemical reduction (~6,000 pounds annually) and 1.5 million gallons water savings at Biogen facility
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Creative Water Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Creative Water Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Creative Water Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Southeastern Laboratories, Inc.coreSoutheastern Laboratories provides water treatment testing and analysis services for ProMoss applications. Worked with CWS on tobacco plant air washer case study. Contributed technical content and case study documentation.
- ISI Water ChemistriescoreWater treatment chemical company working with CWS on industrial cooling tower applications. Conducting trials and documenting results with ProMoss treatment in cooling systems.
- Water Wise, Inc.coreWater Wise of America is a water treatment company providing ProMoss for cooling towers and other water loops. Testimonial partner sharing results on Legionella prevention.
- Aquatech of FloridacoreAquatech of Florida (St. Petersburg, FL) provides ProMoss treatment for cooling towers. Conducted case studies on commercial office building cooling towers.
- Precision ChemicalminorPrecision Chemical (Boonville, IN) provides ProMoss treatment for cooling towers, including at a tubing rolling mill in Indiana.
- Main Line Commercial PoolsminorCommercial pool service company (King of Prussia, PA) using PoolMoss Pro for commercial pools. Testimonial partner indicating expanded client base and positive bottom-line impact.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Creative Water Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Solenis: Solenis is a global specialty chemicals company serving industrial water treatment, pulp/paper, and process industries. Its water-treatment chemistries are a direct incumbent alternative to ProMoss in industrial cooling and process water.
- Veolia Water Technologies: Veolia Water Technologies supplies industrial and municipal water-treatment chemicals, equipment, and service contracts globally. It competes with ProMoss in industrial cooling-tower and boiler applications at large enterprise facilities.
- Pentair: Pentair is a large water-treatment and pool equipment manufacturer with residential, commercial, and industrial offerings including filtration, softening, and pool automation. It overlaps with CWS in pool/spa water treatment and broader residential water-treatment systems.
- Culligan: Culligan is a leading dealer-network-based water-treatment company providing residential and commercial softening, filtration, and drinking water systems. It competes in adjacent point-of-entry water-treatment product categories where CWS's industrial ProMoss is positioned.
- Nalco Water (Ecolab): Nalco Water, an Ecolab division, is the dominant industrial water-treatment chemicals and services provider for cooling towers, boilers, and process water. It is the primary entrenched competitor CWS faces in industrial ProMoss accounts.
- BioGuard (Lonza): BioGuard is one of the largest pool and spa chemical brands in North America, offering chlorine, algaecides, and balance products through a dealer network. It represents the entrenched chemical-treatment incumbent that CWS's natural moss approach is positioned against.
Emerging players
- HaloSource: HaloSource develops proprietary antimicrobial and water-treatment technologies (e.g., halogen-based chemistries) for industrial and consumer water-purification applications. It is an emerging alternative-technology peer pursuing similar chemistry-free or low-chemical water-treatment outcomes.
- Dryden Aqua: Dryden Aqua manufactures Activated Filter Media (AFM) and related water-treatment products that displace traditional sand filtration and reduce chemical usage in pools and aquatics. It is a comparable emerging alternative-technology player targeting the same non-chemical pool-treatment niche as CWS.
Direct peers
- Clear Comfort: Clear Comfort sells hydroxyl-radical-based Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) systems for commercial and residential pools that replace or reduce chlorine. It is a direct competitor to PoolMoss Pro in the non-chemical commercial pool water-treatment niche.
- Natural Chemistry: Natural Chemistry makes enzyme- and plant-based pool and spa care products marketed as natural alternatives to harsh chemicals. It competes directly with CWS's PoolMoss/SpaMoss line for natural-minded residential and commercial pool/spa customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Creative Water Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceCreative Water Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Creative Water Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Creative Water Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Creative Water Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Creative Water Solutions
What does Creative Water Solutions do?
Creative Water Solutions develops and sells proprietary Sphagnum moss-based water treatment systems for industrial, commercial, and residential applications. The company's offerings include reusable contact chambers (one-time purchase) and consumable moss refill packs (recurring monthly) that condition water by removing positively charged metal ions, inhibiting organic contamination, stabilizing pH, and reducing scale and corrosion in cooling towers, boilers, pools, spas, and water features.
Is Creative Water Solutions a public or private company?
Creative Water Solutions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Creative Water Solutions founded?
Creative Water Solutions was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Creative Water Solutions based?
Creative Water Solutions is headquartered in Plymouth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Creative Water Solutions make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Water Treatment Products are the primary driver. The others are consumable Moss Refills.
Who are Creative Water Solutions's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Solenis, Veolia Water Technologies, Pentair, Culligan, Nalco Water (Ecolab) and BioGuard (Lonza). Emerging players are HaloSource and Dryden Aqua. Direct peers are Clear Comfort and Natural Chemistry.
Does Creative Water Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Creative Water Solutions.
What industry is Creative Water Solutions in?
Creative Water Solutions's product category is Water Treatment Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAJAJAE, Whole-House (Point-of-Entry) Water Treatment Systems, with a secondary code of HSAOAAAH, Water Softener, Filtration & Treatment System Installation.