Improving Water Quality with SupaGard KilBac

Product

SupaGard KilBac

Client

Global Water Technology Company

Application

Water Treatment

Location

Value Added

Cost Saving, Reduction of Downtime

Sector

Marine Technology

Application Overview

Water test tanks are commonly used in marine technology environments to simulate operational conditions and validate equipment performance. These tanks must maintain high water clarity and low microbial load to ensure accurate testing and safe handling. However, open tank systems are particularly vulnerable to bacterial contamination, especially when exposed to ambient conditions and intermittent use. Traditional filtration methods, such as sand-bed filters, often fail to individually control microbial growth effectively, leading to discolouration, increased chemical dosing, and operational downtime.

Client Overview

A global water technology company specialising in underwater acoustic, positioning, navigation, and communications systems required a more effective solution to manage water quality in its on-site test tanks. With operations spanning energy, defence, and marine science, the client depends on high-performance infrastructure to maintain the reliability and safety of its systems.

The Problem

The client was experiencing persistent bacterial contamination in its 90,000L water test tanks. Over time, bacteria accumulated, causing green discolouration and compromising water quality. The tanks relied solely on traditional 20-micron sand-bed filtration, which was ineffective at controlling microbial growth on its own.

To mitigate the issue, the team resorted to heavy chlorine dosing and frequent monitoring.

This approach led to:

High chemical usage and increased operational costs
Occasional tank shutdowns due to contamination
Constant maintenance and staff intervention
Unreliable water quality and operational inefficiencies

The Solution

Recognising the need for a more reliable solution, the customer contacted Amazon Filters. After assessing the challenge, Amazon Filters recommended the SupaGard KilBac depth filter cartridge.

Designed to combat bacterial growth and contamination, the KilBac SupaGard incorporates antimicrobial technology within the filter media, actively inhibiting bacteria throughout its service life. Running at a flow rate of 20m³ per hour and with fine filtration of 1 micron, it provides needed extra protection to assist the existing 20-micron sand-bed system.

Key benefits of KilBac SupaGard:

Antimicrobial protection to control bacterial growth.
Reduced reliance on chlorine dosing and monitoring.
Longer service life with less maintenance.

The approach was simple: trial KilBac SupaGard in one tank and measure performance against the existing system.

Kilbac water tanks Before & After stacked (450 x 900 px)

The Results

From the first weeks of use, the client noticed a clear improvement in tank performance:

Cleaner tanks - water stayed visibly clear, with no green discolouration.
Reduced chlorine usage - far less chemical dosing required, lowering costs and environmental impact.
Less downtime and maintenance - bacterial contamination brought under control, reducing the need for constant intervention.
Greater reliability and confidence - tanks became easier to manage, giving staff peace of mind and freeing time for other priorities.

The results were further validated by third-party testing.

This independent evaluation confirmed what the customers team had already observed: there had been a huge improvement in bacterial control and water quality, with benefits sustained over time. See test results below:

kilbac test results

Importantly, these positive results were achieved after only a few months of using the Kilbac SupaGard.

Encouraged by the success of the trial installation, they are now implementing this solution across their other tanks, ensuring consistent protection and efficiency throughout their operations.

SupaGard Kilbac Reduces Chlorine Dosage by 90% for Global Water Technology Company