Staffordshire University and SAS Water Limited KTP 24_25 R2

A water treatment company is overhauling its business and marketing strategy to sell a new product that kills legionella bacteria in water systems. Legionella bacteria cause Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia that can be fatal. The bacteria thrive in man-made water systems such as cooling towers, hot tubs, and large plumbing networks in hospitals, hotels, and office blocks. Current control methods rely on chemical dosing or heat treatment, which can be costly, energy-intensive, or difficult to maintain consistently. This project aims to bring a new legionella control product to market by pairing it with a commercial strategy that maximises sales. If the new product and strategy succeed, building operators and public health authorities could gain a more reliable, cost-effective tool for preventing outbreaks. The impact would be felt in the infrastructure that quietly keeps water safe in hospitals, care homes, and commercial buildings. The project is not fundamental science—it is a commercial development and market-entry effort, combining product innovation with business operations and sales planning to turn a technical solution into a widely adopted one.