Students from Fox Valley Technical College’s Plumbing Apprentice program raised their skills to global proportions by redeveloping a faulty plumbing system for an elementary school in Nashik, India.

The two FVTC students, Adam Koenigsof J.F. Ahern (Fond du Lac, Wis.) and Peter Hollmaierwith SBS Plumbing (Oshkosh, Wis.), participated on Team USA with two other students from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, who represented the design and engineering aspects of the upgraded system. All Team USA members were from Wisconsin, including instructor Randy Lorgeof FVTC.

Team USA joined three other nations in a comprehensive effort to implement the new plumbing system for more than 500 students and staff members as part of the 2nd Annual Community Plumbing Challenge, a global initiative on behalf of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. It is designed to address inadequate water systems around the world by mobilizing skilled engineers, designers and plumbers. The centerpiece part of the project included the development of handwashing stations in the school’s restrooms, along with toilet upgrades.

Team USA won first place in the competition. Subsequently, team members served as project managers for the overall renovation. They ensured that all materials and tools were to be made available in surrounding areas so the design could be used at other schools. The Indian Plumbing Association was on hand to witness the completion of the project and help advance it to other schools.