World Plumbing Day 2012
Plumbing -vital to global health
Many people in developed countries throughout the world take plumbing for granted. They simply turn on a tap or faucet and obtain clean water. Flushing toilets are standard in many countries.
However, little thought is given to the engineering expertise provided by plumbers that ensures these systems operate as intended. Equally, few people appreciate the consequences of bad plumbing systems.
In developing countries on the other hand, plumbing is either non existent or at best very basic. People suffer serious health consequences, and millions of people die as a result of lack of access to clean water and in effective sanitation.
According to the World Health Organisation:
1.1 billion people do not have access to safe water supplies
2.6 billion people do not have access to improved sanitation
3.1 million children die each year from water related diseases
Effective plumbing systems would improve all of these statistics
Plumbing deserves to be respected, and for that reason the World Plumbing Council (established in 1990 and recognised as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in official relations with the World Health Organisation) has created World Plumbing Day (on 11 March each year) as a means of highlighting the important role played by today’s plumbing industry.
On World Plumbing Day, plumbing industry representatives from across the globe are encouraged to do something that draws attention to the role played by the industry.
Previous World Plumbing Day activities have included:
• Bipartisan resolution formally designating March 11 as World Plumbing Day passed by the United States Senate
• Parliamentary motion in the Scottish Parliament drawing attention to the role of the plumbing industry
• Anglican bishop recognises World Plumbing Day during London sermon
• States, provinces, counties and cities worldwide pass resolutions and proclamations
• Industry-sponsored events in Australia, New Zealand, China, USA, UK and India
• Presentations about plumbing and health to school children in the UK, USA and India
• International poster competition for children
• Street theatre with a plumbing theme in India
• TV, radio, newspaper and online coverage across the globe
We don’t need to make such huge gestures. All of us can make small, everyday changes to help:
Energy
Turning your air conditioning or heating up or down just a few degrees can save considerable energy.
Prevent heat loss by insulating your water heater and pipes.
Environment
Reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by installing a solar hot water heater.
Health
Every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water related disease.
At any given time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from water-related diseases.
Water
Using a broom instead of a garden hose to clean your driveway will save 13 gallons every minute you clean.
Putting food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl, without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it can save 1,000 gallons a month.
Use a hose nozzle while you wash your car. You will save up to 100 gallons every time!
Learn more about activities, view a calendar, read about past World Plumbing Days, download fact sheets, view a video address by the World Plumbing Council Chairman and much more at the World Plumbing Day website.
(Copy taken from World Plumbing Day brochure)
4 Comments
Every year, every day!!
Good initiative! We hope to be done again next year!
great post mate and definately agree we take plumbing and the ease of which we receive water for granted.
pitty the governments of worlds developed countries don’t actually realise this and istead of wasting billions bailling countries out who have had chances titme and time agian give the people of places like africa a chance and invest in them with plumbing and reservoiirs etc.
This is 2013 hope this year also everybody will celebrate World Plumbing Day! eagerly waiting for that day.