National Backflow Prevention Day was created in March 2021 by Watts Water Technologies to celebrate backflow prevention and cross-connection control.
Backflow preventers and those who test, install, and maintain them are the unsung heroes of water safety. They often go unnoticed, yet they play a crucial role keeping water supplies clean and safe all over the world. Without backflow prevention, people would face the risk of consuming water with toxins, chemicals, waste, and countless other contaminants.
The purpose of National Backflow Prevention Day is to acknowledge the importance of backflow prevention, educate the public on how this life-saving technology is used, and to recognize the water quality professionals responsible for installing and maintaining backflow preventers.
The Significance of August 16th
On this date in 1933, the Chicago World Fair attracted thousands of guests. Two popular hotels housing tourists shared their rooftop potable water source, and a lack of strict plumbing/cross-connection control codes resulted in a breakout of amoebic dysentery in the joint water supply. The disease quickly spread worldwide, resulting in 98 recorded deaths and 2,000 illnesses. The outbreak resulted in the founding of the Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, leading to new, safe plumbing regulations for backflow assemblies.
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Source: Watts Water Technologies
