What are you doing to promote plumbing sanitation and water conservation in your community?

Today, March 11, is World Plumbing Day. It is a day dedicated to broadcasting the message worldwide that clean water is not a luxury - it is vital to the health of all nations. We are in the middle of the International Decade of Action “Water for Life,” established by the United Nations in 2005. According to the World Plumbing Council , preventable diseases related to water and sanitation claim the lives of about 3.1 million people per year, most of them children less than 5 years old. Of these, about 1.6 million people die each year of diarrheal diseases associated with lack of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.



What can you do to promote this message in your community beyond today? You can adapt ideas from these North American industry organizations:

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials developed a Social-Studies-themed lesson plan for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. The group also set up a poster-designing contest on the theme “Plumbing Moves Society Forward.” Students who submit a poster will be entered into a drawing for three iPod Touch devices.

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating are teaming up to provide content to industry and national news media; engage in promotional efforts on a local, provincial and national level; and provide PowerPoint presentations for classroom discussions.

Watch Canada’s DS Plumbing and its mobile toilet!



Other activity ideas at the World Plumbing Day Web site (www.worldplumbingday.com) are:

• Have a special promotion to alert customers to the importance of the day.


• Partner with wholesalers and manufacturers to orchestrate a joint promotional activity related to World Plumbing Day.


• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper regarding the state of world plumbing or contact your local news station.


• Promote your company’s “green” role in your community.


• Schedule talks at your local schools to educate students on the importance of clean water for everyone.


• Partner with colleges and universities on a joint plumbing activity.

Fix Those Leaks

Water conservation is the topic during Fix A Leak Week, March 14-20. Fix a Leak Week is celebrated in March of each year as a time to remind Americans to check their household fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association is just one industry group that is promoting this event to its members. What is your local association doing? And how are  you becoming involved? Not only  will this program  help save water in your community, it will  help your customers  save money on their water  bills. And that  kind of positive PR  is great for your company.

The facts on leaks, according to the EPA:

Leaks can account for, on average, 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year, which is enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.

The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons per year. That’s equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami combined.

Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.

Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. All are easily correctable and most don’t require a major investment.

Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.

What will you be doing to help save water in your community during Fix A Leak Week?

To view a podcast on Fix A Leak Week, click here.

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