For the second year, National Backflow Prevention Day on August 16, 2022, recognizes the role of backflow prevention and cross-connection control and those who install, maintain, and test backflow preventers. It marks the day in 1933 when a backflow incident occurred at a Chicago hotel resulting in 98 deaths and 2,000 illnesses. The incident led to the founding of the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research and to new safe plumbing regulations for backflow assemblies. Plumbing & Mechanical marked the day by asking for backflow prevention “selfies” and photo submissions.
Celebrating Backflow Prevention Day
Sean Cleary, vice president of industry programs and BPI Operations for IAPMO, says his wife is a good sport about posing for pictures with backflow prevention assemblies during vacations. This one was taken in Oahu, Hawaii in 2018. Photo Courtesy of Sean Cleary.
