In February 2026, the Biofilm Alliance attended SPATEX Ltd, a key industry event for the pool, spa and wet leisure sector, held at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Across the exhibition and seminar programme, biofilms were consistently raised as a real and persistent challenge within water systems. Discussions with suppliers, facility managers and technical specialists highlighted ongoing difficulties around biofilm detection, removal and long-term management in operational environments.

Several exhibitors shared emerging approaches to biofilm removal, alongside testing initiatives aimed at better understanding the real-world effectiveness of new products and interventions. These conversations reflected a strong appetite for evidence and guidance that align with regulatory expectations while still capturing the complex behaviour of biofilms on surfaces and within pipework.

As part of the SPATEX seminar programme, Geertje van Keulen delivered a well-attended talk, building on biofilm knowledge from previous years and providing an update on Biofilm Alliance activities and outputs over the past year. The session prompted engaged discussion around ongoing challenges in biofilm detection and management, as well as a clear need for improved education across the sector - particularly around how biofilms behave in real systems and why approaches based solely on routine water sampling do not always capture the full extent of biofilm risk.

In addition to technical discussions, Biofilm Alliance representatives explored potential future research directions with industry stakeholders, particularly where current challenges are not yet supported by robust or standardised evidence.

These activities reinforce the Biofilm Alliance’s commitment to supporting collaboration between industry and academia, advancing biofilm-specific understanding, and contributing to the development of practical, evidence-based approaches to biofilm management across water systems.