FabGuard Antimicrobial Stormwater Filter Treatment Technology

Filtration System for Reducing Coliform Bacteria in Stormwater, Industrial Wastewater, and Municipal Wastewater Applications

Stormwater runoff flowing over paved and unpaved surfaces picks up many types of contaminants including: oil, grease, heavy metals, nutrients and even potentially harmful organisms and bacteria. Our FabGuard antimicrobial stormwater filter treatment is a solution for reducing coliform bacteria in stormwater, industrial and municipal wastewater applications.

Sources of these potentially harmful microorganisms can be as simple as fecal matter deposited on the surfaces by birds, wild animals or pet cats and dogs. Once these pathogens are assimilated into the water stream, they are easily transported through existing stormwater systems that can empty directly into local streams, lakes or estuaries. Here they can significantly impact the water quality causing both beaches and shellfish area closings.

FabGuard media is an effective solution for reducing coliform bacteria in stormwater, industrial wastewater and municipal wastewater applications. FabGuard media has been tested under diverse laboratory and field conditions.

Ecoli Laboratory Testing – Enterococci Laboratory Testing – StormBasin Field Testing

Reduce Pollutants from Stormwater and Wastewater with Sustained High Flow Rates While Still Providing Exceptional Treatment of Coliform Bacteria

FabGuard is a modified flexible polyether reticulated foam material which can be manufactured with up to 98% open void volume providing high permeability for water transport. The foam is non-biodegradable, exhibits excellent tensile, elongation and tear properties and is chemical resistant. It can be supplied in various shapes and sizes including blocks, disks and even hollow roller shapes. Fabco modifies this foam base material making it antimicrobially active during the manufacturing of FabGuard.

This modification entails applying a patented chemical treatment (Aegis Antimicrobial Shield) to Fabco’s foam base material where it forms a colorless, odorless, positively charged polymer coating which chemically bonds to the foam surfaces. This antimicrobial coating becomes an integral part of the foam. Testing at Independent laboratories has confirmed that the coating is virtually irremovable and should last the life of the foam material.

At the microscopic level the antimicrobial polymer coating on the FabGuard would look like a layer of electrically charged swords or stiff fibers extending outwardly from the foam surfaces. These swords (see graphic) cover all surfaces throughout the FabGuard foam material media providing extensive treatment area well beyond the simple surface area.

When used in stormwater applications, water is sent through the FabGuard material contained in one of Fabco’s stormwater products. Bacteria suspended in the water contacts these swords or fibers where two actions occur

1) the swords puncture or disrupt the cell membrane and 2) a small electrical charge is transferred from the sword to the cell. The combined effect of these two actions effectively neutralizes or destroys the organism. The dead cell is then sloughed off and the sword is now ready for the next organism.