t’s so easy to take indoor plumbing for granted. While that’s a sign of how fortunate we are to have this luxury, we have to be careful that we don’t waste a precious resource like water just because it seems so easy to come by.
What is World Plumbing Day?
The World Plumbing Council started World Plumbing Day to raise awareness of the importance of plumbing and water conservation internationally.
Though you might not have heard of them, the World Plumbing Council has been around since 2000 when they were registered as an organization in Switzerland. Their aim is to “develop and promote the image and standards of the plumbing industry worldwide.” In other words, they work towards developing the plumbing industry and remind us of how important it is to our daily lives.
Why should you care?
To find out how important plumbing is, we only have to take a look at those who are forced to live without it. After all, you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, right?
Imagine living in a place where you wash clothes, gather drinking water and water to cook all in the same river that you use for the bathroom.
Imagine having to walk miles every day to bring back buckets of water to keep your family alive. Then you have to figure out how much you can drink without getting sick from parasites, bacteria and dangerous chemicals.
Imagine not having enough water and dying from dehydration, especially in a climate with temperatures that soar past 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Imagine actually having plumbing, but instead of clean water and efficient sanitary removal, your plumbing system doesn’t work.
That might difficult to consider,but that is the reality one third of the world’s population faces.
What can you do about it?
Limit water use. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets, take shorter showers and turn off the taps when you’re soaping dishes, your hands, etc. Make sure you repair all leaks, even the small ones.
Raise awareness among your friends and family about the importance of plumbing to health and society in general. Post info about World Plumbing Day on social media and encourage your friends to ask their plumbers about this special day.
Have a plumber inspect your home’s plumbing system. Make sure it’s up to the latest standard and, if not, consider planning for upgrades and improvements within this year. Give us a call if you need help identifying ways of improving your home’s plumbing and we’ll raise the plumbing standard for you and your family.