Major Backflow Preventer Brands and Manufacturers

The backflow prevention device market in the United States is served by a concentrated group of manufacturers whose assemblies must meet performance standards set by ASSE International, the USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, and the American Water Works Association (AWWA). This page maps the principal brands active in the sector, the device categories each produces, the certification standards that govern product approval, and the boundaries that distinguish one manufacturer's product positioning from another. Specifiers, licensed testers, and water utility cross-connection control programs all rely on this landscape to match devices to hazard classifications and site conditions.

Definition and scope

Backflow preventer manufacturers produce mechanical assemblies that interrupt the reverse movement of water through a plumbing system — preventing non-potable water, chemicals, or biological contaminants from entering a potable supply line through either backpressure or backsiphonage. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency addresses this risk category through its Cross-Connection Control Manual, which identifies cross-connections as the physical sites where approved assemblies must be installed.

Device approval in the United States operates through a recognized listing process. The USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (USC FCCCHR) and the American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA) maintain lists of approved assemblies that water utilities and local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) consult when approving installations. ASSE International sets the performance standards — most critically ASSE 1013 (Reduced Pressure Zone assemblies), ASSE 1015 (Double Check Valve assemblies), ASSE 1020 (Pressure Vacuum Breakers), and ASSE 1001 (Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers) — to which manufacturers must certify their products.

The sector's product scope covers four primary assembly types:

  1. Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) assembly — for high-hazard applications; provides the highest level of protection
  2. Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA) — for low-to-moderate hazard applications; not permitted where high-hazard contamination is possible
  3. Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB) — for non-continuous pressure applications such as irrigation; must be installed above the highest downstream outlet
  4. Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB) — the simplest form; limited to low-hazard applications with no valves downstream

For a structured overview of how these device types map to specific hazard classifications, the backflow listings section of this reference covers approved assemblies by category.

How it works

Each major manufacturer produces assemblies within these four categories, though their product lines vary in scope, size range, material options, and intended market segment. The dominant brands whose assemblies appear most frequently on USC FCCCHR and ASSE approval lists include:

Watts Water Technologies — one of the oldest and most widely distributed names in backflow prevention, Watts produces RPZ, DCVA, PVB, and AVB assemblies across a range of sizes from ¼-inch residential to 10-inch industrial configurations. Watts assemblies carry ASSE certifications and appear on approval lists maintained by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which operates one of the most stringent approval programs in the country.

Wilkins (Zurn Industries) — Wilkins manufactures assemblies to ASSE 1013, 1015, 1020, and 1001 standards. The brand's product line spans commercial and industrial applications, with the 975XL RPZ and 350 DCVA among the assemblies listed on the USC FCCCHR approved product roster. Zurn Industries, Wilkins' parent company, operates as a division of Rexnord Corporation.

Febco (Watts) — Febco operates as a distinct product line within the Watts portfolio, historically focused on irrigation and municipal applications. The Febco 825Y RPZ and 765 PVB series appear widely in municipal cross-connection control program specifications.

Ames Fire & Waterworks (Watts) — another brand within the Watts family, Ames assemblies are commonly specified for fire suppression and industrial piping applications, where higher flow rates and larger body sizes are required.

Apollo Valves (Aalberts Industries) — Apollo produces backflow prevention assemblies including RPZ and DCVA configurations. The brand is frequently encountered in commercial mechanical systems and is listed on state and utility approval rosters.

Flomatic Corporation — Flomatic manufactures check valves and backflow assemblies with an emphasis on municipal waterworks applications, particularly in pumping and well systems.

The practical distinction between brands for a licensed tester or specifier is not primarily brand preference but approved status: each water utility or state program maintains its own approved assembly list, and a device must appear on the applicable list to be legally installed in that jurisdiction. For context on how the broader service sector is structured, the backflow-directory-purpose-and-scope reference describes how approval structures and professional licensing intersect at the local level.

Common scenarios

Brand selection in practice is driven by three intersecting factors: hazard classification at the cross-connection point, local or state approval status, and the size range required by the system.

Municipal water service entrances — RPZ assemblies from Watts, Wilkins, or Febco are commonly specified by utilities for commercial and industrial service connections classified as high-hazard. The USC FCCCHR approval list is the primary reference document utilities use to verify eligibility.

Irrigation systems — PVB assemblies from Febco and Watts dominate irrigation applications. The Febco 765 PVB and Watts 800 series are among the most frequently encountered in residential and light-commercial irrigation cross-connection control programs. A critical installation constraint: PVB assemblies must be positioned at least 12 inches above the highest downstream outlet per ASSE 1020 requirements.

Fire suppression connections — Ames and Watts RPZ assemblies are frequently specified for fire line service entrances where a high-hazard classification applies, particularly in jurisdictions that follow NFPA 13 requirements for system isolation.

Industrial process connections — Larger-body RPZ assemblies (2-inch through 10-inch) from Watts, Wilkins, and Apollo are specified where chemical feed systems, boilers, or elevated tank configurations create backpressure risk. These applications almost universally require periodic field testing by a licensed tester, with test reports filed with the local water authority.

Residential service — DCVA assemblies in ¾-inch and 1-inch configurations from Watts and Apollo appear in residential cross-connection programs, particularly in jurisdictions that mandate protection at whole-house service entrances for properties with irrigation systems or private wells.

Decision boundaries

The choice between manufacturers — and between device types — is governed by overlapping regulatory and technical constraints, not brand considerations alone.

Approval list status is non-negotiable. An assembly not listed on the applicable state or utility approval roster cannot be legally installed in that jurisdiction, regardless of the manufacturer's reputation or ASSE certification. California's CDPH approval program, New York's approved product list, and utility-specific rosters in Texas and Florida each operate independently and may differ in which assemblies qualify.

DCVA vs. RPZ — hazard threshold boundary. This is the most consequential distinction in device selection. Double Check Valve assemblies (Watts 007, Wilkins 350, Apollo 4A series) are permitted only where the downstream hazard is classified as low or moderate — non-health hazard contamination. Where any health hazard is present (chemical injection, sewage systems, irrigation with chemical feed), an RPZ assembly is mandatory under ASSE standards and most state codes. This boundary is defined by the AHJ and the cross-connection control program, not by the manufacturer.

Size range and material compatibility. Manufacturers differ in the size ranges they produce for each assembly type. Watts and Wilkins produce RPZ assemblies from ½-inch through 10-inch; smaller brands may not offer assemblies above 4-inch, limiting their applicability to large industrial installations. Bronze body construction dominates smaller residential and commercial assemblies; epoxy-coated ductile iron is standard for larger sizes in municipal applications.

Testing and parts availability. All testable assemblies — RPZ and DCVA types — require periodic field testing by licensed testers, typically on an annual basis per water utility requirements. Parts availability (check module seats, relief valve components) affects long-term serviceability. Watts and Wilkins maintain established repair parts networks across the United States, which factors into utility and contractor specifications for long-service installations.

The how-to-use-this-backflow-resource reference describes how approved assembly lookups and licensed tester searches are structured within this directory's scope.

References

📜 1 regulatory citation referenced  ·  🔍 Monitored by ANA Regulatory Watch  ·  View update log

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