Fundamentals of Backflow Prevention: Its Role in Achieving Safe, Reliable Water

Who is this course designed for?

• Owners and managers of any water product or service
• Utility and other water supply operators
• Regulators of water products and services
• Backflow prevention professionals
• Auditors of water suppliers

ISO 31000: All clauses

Time: approx. 3.5 hours

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Learning Outcomes

This ISO 31000-based online course equips students with the skills to understand and effectively manage water supply risks related to backflow events, to ensure the continued provision of safe, reliable water. The course objectives include:

• Understanding operating context.
• Understanding the complexity of the contemporary water operating environment.
• Review of legal and formal requirements e.g. National Construction Code, Plumbing Code of Australia, AS/NZS 3500.1, state and territory variations, local codes.
• Understanding key risk and backflow terms and definitions.
• Review of roles and responsibilities for backflow management and oversight within the water supply chain.
• Understanding the types of hazards that can be introduced by backflow events, and where they might arise.
• Understanding the different types of backflow prevention, as key risk controls and where they apply.
• Understand the importance of holding a register, testing and maintenance (AS/NZS 3500 Clause 4.4.6).
• Analysis of a backflow case study, to assess the impacts and identify the root causes.

Course Materials

• Videos presented by two highly experienced trainers.
• A 100+ page slide deck.
• Multiple detailed handouts.
• A guided real-world case study to identify root causes and assess impact.
• Integrated quizzes to track progress and reinforce learning.
• An Exemplar Global-endorsed certificate of completion.

Course Developers and Presenters
This premium RiskReady™ course has been developed by The Risk Edge Group in collaboration with the Backflow Prevention Association of Australia. It is presented by the two principals of The Risk Edge Group.

Dr Annette Davison, winner of the  Australian Water Association’s 2021 Water Professional of the Year Award and an Exemplar Global-certified Water Quality Management System Lead Auditor, is a microbiologist, legal professional and risk management specialist with over 35 years' of experience in the water, environment, policy and mining fields. She has helped utilities implement water safety and risk management plans both in Australia and overseas. She has published extensively in several fields, including bioremediation, biodiversity, microbial ecology, water utility due diligence and risk management, and was a lead author on the WHO's Water Safety Plan.

Annette is a specialist in optimising business outcomes. She consults on water risk management for global, state and territory water authorities and regulators and was one of the founding Water Quality Management System auditors. As a Cert IV qualified trainer, Annette is in demand as a conference and workshop facilitator for developing and auditing of risk management plans as well as various training programs.

Sarah Loder is a qualified engineer, specialising in strategic risk management for the water industry. She has a background in both engineering consulting and management consulting. Also an Exemplar Global-certified Water Quality Management System Lead Auditor, Sarah has nearly 20 years of experience across process engineering, audit and 'Big 4' risk advisory and management consulting for government and private sector customers. Sarah delivers a deep understanding of both technical and operational aspects of water quality management.

Sarah is a specialist in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of risk-based water quality management systems. With key skills across risk assessment planning, hazard and critical control point analysis (HACCP), process mapping, gap analysis and internal audit, reporting and complex data analysis.