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Welcome to DefendYourH2O.com

Our primary purpose is to assist communities in their quest to enhance drinking water security and hydrant operability and to market the Davidson “No Dig” ATV – the World’s first internal stealth device designed for the mitigation of accidental or intentional insertion of a foreign substance into the drinking water system via the fire hydrant. In addition to the enhanced security provided by the ATV, Army Corps of Engineers completed years of study and have concluded that the retrofit of the ATV enhances hydrant operability and extends the life expectancy of new and existing hydrants alike. The fire hydrant is a critical part to fire fighting, but also represents the nation’s largest water infrastructure threat for accidental backflow or intentional contamination of our drinking water system. The ATV is available in new hydrants, regardless of make, and is the only retrofit option for in-service hydrants that requires no excavation … earning the “No Dig” nickname. The ATV can be retrofitted in almost all existing hydrants regardless of make or model without taking the hydrant out of service. Our goals are the same for ALL communities: increased hydrant security, and greater hydrant operability, leading to greater security of your drinking, while increasing firefighter safety, and making fire hydrants less vulnerable to accidental backflow and terrorism.

Even though communities have spent millions since 2001 to protect water supplies and water treatment plants … surrounding them with razor wire, installing surveillance systems and beefing up security staff … millions of fire hydrants provide the most accessible direct link to the water distribution system that serves nearly every home and office in the country. Without the Davidson ATV installed, someone wishing to contaminate our drinking water needs no special tools and only a few minutes to commit the unthinkable. With the Davidson ATV installed, such efforts are thwarted. The Davidson ATV increases water security, hydrant security and helps protect against accidental backflow and intentional tampering with the public drinking water supply thru a fire hydrant.

Davidson Hydrant Technologies recognized this threat, and developed and patented a stealth internal check valve device which prevents accidental backflow and the intentional introduction of contaminants into the water distribution system via the hydrant.

“In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifference” - Rachel Carson - Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient

Davidson ATV Protects Communities AND Firefighters

The Davidson Valve has been gaining popularity around the country as an important physical deterrent against someone introducing deadly toxins – either accidentally or intentionally – in our drinking water via the fire hydrant. What often goes unlooked is the fact that by including the Davidson ATV in new and existing fire hydrants, firefighters – stalwart defenders of safety in our communities - are also provided an additional level of protection.

All communities are encouraged to protect their water systems – and to provide added security and safety for our firefighters. The Davidson ATV is the only device available that can do both --- while not slowing down response time at a working fire, not diminishing water pressure and not diminishing water flow.  

Read more detailed information in the secure section of our web site on how the Davidson Valve is helping to protect firefighters. Firefighter Protection

Backflow Happens

Firefighters extinguishing a fire cause a backflow event when a mixture of foam and water backs up into a water system through a fire hydrant. A landscaper taps into a county water hydrant and allows a fertilizer mixture to backflow into the municipal water system. In another firefighting incident, a crew flushing the tank and pump of a fire engine contaminate a water utility system with aqueous film forming foam.

What do all these incidents have in common? They’re all examples of backflow incidents.

Fighting fires is a difficult, dangerous occupation, yet sometimes-unintended consequences can occur even while performing public safety functions. In California, firefighters for a county fire authority were using a small quantity of firefighting foam on a blaze in a recycling center when a mixture of water and foam backed up into a fire hydrant. By the time area residents had all received warning notices the next day, some had already drunk possibly contaminated water, which in some instances appeared soapy and in others, clear. Read the full Reeves Journal article here: Backflow Happens

AWWA Water System Security: Distribution System Protection Video

The distribution system represents miles and miles of possible targets that can never be defended 24-hours a day, making its protection a difficult responsibility. What should your water utility be doing to protect its pipeline, buildings, employees, and community? 

Water System Security: Distribution System Protection DVD asks the hard questions and provides important information vital to protecting the public heath. This powerful video covers many aspects of basic water distribution system security:

• Vulnerability assessment
• Emergency responder communications plan
• Public awareness campaign
• Defensive boundary fencing and signage
• Tamper-resistant locks, chains, doors, and hatches
• Security lighting
• Protection of pump stations, wellheads, storage tanks, fire hydrants, and power supplies
• Cameras, alarms, motion detectors, water quality monitors
• Water quality sampling and testing protocols
• Security patrols and guards
• Leak audits and leak-detection programs
• Auxiliary power and communication systems protection
• Backflow prevention and cross-connection control programs

DVD Catalog No. 64269 http://www.awwa.org/bookstore/productDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=4689

Corrosion Protection Enhanced with the ATV installed

The Army Corps of Engineers, after several years of testing and research, has concluded that the no dig ATV, added to new or existing hydrants, dramatically increases the operability and life of those hydrants, making the investment payback extremely attractive. A few brief quotes from the Army Corps report to the DOD (CPC Project Report F09-AR12):

This Office of the Secretary of Defense Corrosion Prevention and Control Program project demonstrated the installation of a kit capable of retrofitting fire hydrants to improve their performance and reliability that suffers as a result of corrosion. Fire hydrants often appear operational from the outside; however, it is common that the internal mechanics of a hydrant have corroded enough to decrease its performance to an inoperable order. The current design of fire hydrants also allow for accidental/deliberate insertion of foreign matter which can lead to contamination of the surrounding area’s water supply and present a health hazard to personnel and families. DoD installations have a requirement to provide adequate corrosion protection and security for its fire hydrants to remain in service. This paper will describe a study undertaken to assess the capabilities and advantages of retrofitting fire hydrants with a stealth NO DIG kit (Davidson ATV -DATV) that will prevent corrosion and foreign substance injection.

If you would like a copy of this report or see a demonstration of the ATV capabilities and benefits, please contact us.

Medical Preparedness for Acts of Water Terrorism

A new medical website has been launched to assist healthcare providers and public health personnel recognize and manage waterborne disease and the health effects of water pollution resulting from either natural OR intentional contamination of water. Contamination of water reserves by either chemical agents or infectious pathogens may affect the health of millions of residents in the United States. Water consumers are frequently unaware of the potential health risks associated with exposure to waterborne contaminants and often consult practicing physicians who are unfamiliar with water pollution issues and their subsequent impact on human health. Misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of waterborne disease by the medical community may result in significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in vulnerable populations at increased risk of disease as a result of exposure to waterborne pathogens and chemical contaminants. Visit the secure section of our site to learn more. Physician Preparedness

Although we feel it is crucial that the general public be made aware of this vulnerability that threatens the water supply that goes into every home, we require registration in order to explore the contents of this web site which provides details about the device and explores the ease with which our water supply can be accidentally or intentionally contaminated ... as well as the ease with which such vulnerabilities can be mitigated.

Visit the Contact Us page to reach a DefendYourH2O.com representative for further information, or if you would like details on having the device protect your community.

Thank you for your interest in protecting and enhancing the operability of the public water supply.

Please click below to register for the secure section of our site, where detailed information about the Davidson ATV can be found.