Staffordshire University partners with UK firm to monitor water for deadly bacteria
Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom is helping SAS Water to develop a new product to prevent the spread of deadly bacteria Legionella. If left undetected in water supplies, Legionella can grow to dangerous levels and cause the respiratory infection Legionnaires' disease.
SAS Water, based in Leek, is an industry leader in Legionella control with more than 30 years' experience of working with clients across private and public sectors including factories, councils, nursing homes, housing associations, hotels, spas and leisure centres. Now, the company has teamed up with Staffordshire University on a project which aims to transform the market for water safety.
– Each year, hundreds of Legionella outbreaks are discovered across the UK and can result in serious illness and death. Businesses have a legal obligation to understand and minimise the risk of Legionella and we provide a range of services to help them do this, Lizzie Ward, Managing Director of SAS Water, explained.
– We had an idea for a new product but didn’t have the technical know-how to bring it to life. So, working with Staffordshire University seemed liked a fantastic opportunity.
Legionella risk is usually monitored through temperature checks and the regular flushing of water systems. To improve accuracy and save resources, SAS Water is now developing a sensor-based solution to automatically monitor water for the bacteria, using low powered, cutting-edge sensor technologies and a cloud-based management system.
SAS Water has accessed a range of funded support through Staffordshire University’s Innovation Enterprise Zone. After developing the product concept and a prototype, the company has now entered a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Staffordshire University to bring the product to market.
– SAS Water is a brilliant, forward-thinking company and this is the perfect example of knowledge transfer. You have a business with an idea for a project but lacking the internal expertise to deliver it. We have incredible knowledge within our academic teams. It's a fantastic way of driving businesses forward, Philip O’Neil, Employer Partnership Development Manager at Staffordshire University, said.
