An accelerated drain system for a walk-in bathtub with a water outlet in a side wall communicates water to a diverter valve biased to circulate the water in the bathtub and movable selectively to communicate water through a reverse check valve to a drain, the reverse check valve biased closed to prevent water flow and movable selectively to allow water flow to the drain, with a controller configured for moving the diverter valve selectively from the second position to the closed position for subsequent use of the walk-in bathtub. A method of rapid draining of a walk-in bathtub is disclosed.