Backwater valve with control linkage

A backwater valve, comprising:

• a hollow valve body having an inlet and an outlet;
• a valve member pivotally movable about a pivot axis between an open position in which the valve member is away from the inlet and a closed position in which the valve member directly engages and covers the inlet to prevent fluid flow through the inlet, the pivot axis being disposed above the inlet;
• a counterweight carried by the valve member having a weight sufficient to lift the valve member to the open position such that the counterweight biases the valve member toward a normally open position above the inlet, the counterweight moving toward a top of the hollow valve body as the valve member moves toward the closed position;
• and
• a float positioned below the counterweight, wherein, in the absence of water, the float is disengaged from the counterweight, and in the presence of water, the float moves toward the top of the hollow valve body and lifts the counterweight to move the valve member toward the closed position.