Fortunately, drinking waterborne outbreaks are relatively rare in affluent countries, but they occur more commonly than generally recognized and the causes of these failures are also too common.¹ Because of the low frequency of occurrence, most frontline drinking water personnel (operators, managers, regulators and public health personnel) are unlikely to experience disaster first‐hand and are even less likely to have a second chance to do things right after experiencing a major disaster. Under these circumstances it seems only sensible to make experience from past failures available, accessible and meaningful for the majority of frontline personnel so that they can learn from the negative experiences of others and be better prepared to deal with an unfolding disaster if one should begin on their watch.