Watts Regulator Company, headquartered in Lawrence, Massachusetts, was a manufacturer of pressure reducing valves, relief valves, backflow preventers, and water quality control products for commercial and industrial applications including military naval vessels. Watts pressure reducing valves and steam system components were used in Navy ship steam distribution systems, ship service water systems, and auxiliary system pressure control applications. Watts valves incorporated asbestos-containing stem packing and gasket materials in their construction consistent with valve manufacturer practices of the WWII through mid-1970s era. Navy Machinist’s Mates and Boiler Technicians performing pressure reducing valve maintenance, packing replacement, and valve overhauls on Watts and other manufacturer valves accumulated asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing stem packing and gasket materials in these valve assemblies.

Asbestos in Watts Regulator Products

Watts valve products incorporated asbestos in their construction:

  • Valve stem packing — Watts pressure reducing valves and relief valves used asbestos rope and asbestos woven packing in the valve stem packing glands to seal the valve stem against steam and hot water pressure. Machinist’s Mates and Boiler Technicians repacking Watts valves encountered asbestos stem packing during gland nut removal, old packing extraction, and new packing installation, releasing asbestos fiber from the deteriorated packing during removal operations
  • Valve body and bonnet gaskets — the flanged connections and valve bonnet joints in Watts pressure reducing valves used asbestos-containing compressed fiber gaskets for sealing the valve body connections. Navy ratings removing valve bonnets and flanged connections during valve overhaul encountered asbestos fiber from the valve body gasket materials
  • Valve seat and disk materials — certain Watts valve seat and disk components used asbestos-containing materials in valve seat and closure disk construction for steam service applications

Watts pressure reducing valves appeared in Navy ship steam and water systems:

  • Steam pressure reducing stations — Navy ships maintained steam pressure reducing valve stations to step down main steam pressure for use in auxiliary steam systems. Watts and other manufacturer valves at these reducing stations required periodic maintenance and packing replacement by Machinist’s Mates and Boiler Technicians
  • Ship service water pressure control — Watts pressure reducing valves and check valves were used in ship service fresh water distribution systems, with engineering ratings performing valve maintenance on these systems throughout the ship

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Watts Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from valve maintenance in Navy engineering spaces. Machinist’s Mates and Boiler Technicians who performed pressure reducing valve maintenance on Watts and other manufacturer valves with asbestos packing materials and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.