PM Engineer Next Gen ALL-STARS

2024 Next Gen All Star: Drew Rich

Top 20 Under 40 Plumbing Professional

How long have you been in the PHCP-PVF industry?

DR: I have been researching for two years on sanitary, venting and supply systems. I originally studied structural engineering as an undergraduate, and after I graduated in 2021, began research as a PhD student in the field of water, particularly looking at eutrophication and coastal waterways. A lot of my coursework had been in structural engineering, computer programming, and hydrology. A lot of the coursework and prior knowledge of programming helped me quickly adapt to research in the plumbing industry.

What drew you into the industry?

DR: The opportunity to enter into the plumbing industry came at the beginning of my second year as a PhD student. I had originally been working on coastal eutrophication and potential solutions to this issue when an incredible funding opportunity arose through the International Code Council. We were asked to help assist in developing a pipe sizing methodology for supply, sanitary, and venting systems in the built environment. This opportunity is what really got me started in the plumbing industry.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working in the industry?

DR: I find the most rewarding aspect of my work to be the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the field. Plumbing, despite being one of the most progressive steps in terms of health and safety in the built environment, still has many areas that are not fully understood and can be improved. The rapid modernization of plumbing systems makes being part of this process extremely exciting. Additionally, I have had the chance to collaborate with individuals who have conducted outstanding research, helping to push plumbing into the modern age, which has been incredibly rewarding. The knowledge and support I have gained through these collaborations have been a great learning experience. Lastly, the prospect of contributing to a larger body of work that will benefit everyone in the built environment — including friends, family and the wider community — is truly exciting.

What motivates you every day?

DR: My biggest motivator is the hope that I can make a significant contribution to the field of plumbing design, and work on improving people’s lives. That has always been a goal of mine, and the plumbing industry seemed like a great place to start.

What is one thing you wish more people knew/understood about the PHCP-PVF industry?

DR: How incredibly complex the hydraulic interactions of plumbing systems are. So many people take running water and sewage in their homes for granted and do not realize that these systems are exceedingly difficult to model because of the complexity of interacting human behaviors. Demand methodologies are trying to figure out how many fixtures are active at once. I always ask people to reflect on their morning routine and how much it changes on a day-to-day basis. I then ask them to imagine trying to predict exactly how many of those fixtures are going to be active at a given time in a building with one hundred people, each having their own unique patterns and level of randomness. It is quite a difficult problem.

What has been your proudest moment in your career so far?

DR: My proudest moment was definitely when my first publication was cited in the development of the proposed water reuse code. We had done a journal publication on the challenges associated with water reuse from an implementation perspective in the United States. In the paper, we highlighted the varying treatment requirements for similar uses and some of the barriers standing in the way of widescale adoption. Seeing the work that you have produced be recognized in an international draft of a code is such an amazing feeling and I am incredibly excited that I was able to share that work and hopefully see it adopted into practice someday.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

DR: I really enjoy things that are adrenaline-inducing. I have gone swimming with sharks and alligators, gone skydiving and am planning to go bungee jumping and wing walking in the future! I am also getting very into aquariums, and after graduating plan to make a more effective plumbing system for my tank to reduce the maintenance!

Why he was chosen as a Next Gen All-Star Top 20 Under 40 winner:

“Drew is a highly motivated and energetic person whose passion for advancing plumbing engineering design methodologies is immediately apparent. Working with Drew on the ICC 815 Technical Committee has been a privilege. He put together an in-depth catalog listing national plumbing standards from dozens of countries along with a glossary of terms and is always interested reading a new technical paper and sharing what he’s learned. He’s become integrated into the global plumbing community and recently shared some of his work at the CIBSE Technical Symposium in the U.K.

“Dr. Esber Andiroglu says, ‘He is highly intelligent and detail-oriented with the ability to apply knowledge gained from each effort he is involved in towards his future work. Academically, he has been a solid and highly motivated doctoral program student, strategically enhancing his knowledge base and technical skills with each course he has taken, which has enabled him to propel his research efforts toward the completion of his thesis focused on improving design and construction practices for premise plumbing systems.

“Drew has demonstrated significant personal and professional growth over the past few years; acquired skills for sharing knowledge and mentoring younger students effectively and efficiently while growing and strengthening his depth of knowledge through interactions with academic and industry leaders with expertise in water resources and building sciences. He has committed to advancing knowledge and contributing to the development of the next generation of codes and standards for efficient management and preservation of water resources. Drew also follows scientifically grounded creative approaches when developing innovative responses to tackle design solutions for water efficiency challenges in response to varying climate change impacts and threats.” — John Lansing

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Nicole Krawcke is the former Chief Editor of Plumbing & Mechanical and PM Engineer magazines. She covered the HVAC and plumbing industries for BNP Media. She has more than 15 years of writing and editing experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Michigan State University.