Published 03-22-22
Submitted by International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®)
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2022 /CSRwire/ - More than 2 billion people worldwide — including more than 2 million Americans — live without access to running water, basic indoor plumbing, or proper sanitation. The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®) is determined to close the world’s water gap.
In celebration of World Water Day, IAPMO, along with Global Health Council, InterAction, Millennium Water Alliance, UNICEF USA, WaterAid America, World Vision, World Wildlife Fund, is hosting a Congressional WASH briefing titled “Water, Water, Everywhere: A Building Block for Global Security.” This event is in conjunction with the Congressional International Water and Sanitation Caucus, chaired by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.). It will highlight the important role the United States plays in helping countries address their water security challenges. It further builds on IAPMO’s continued partnership with USAID and the U.S. Department of Commerce to expand water and sanitation access by utilizing the best resources from U.S. industry.
In addition to the congressional briefing, IAPMO is also pleased to endorse a new bill led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and co-sponsored by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M). This new legislation, the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Sector Development Act of 2022 (WASH Act), aims to address the running water and basic indoor plumbing needs of underserved Americans.
“Between historic drought and increasingly outdated infrastructure, Western communities are in desperate need of federal help to shore up access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation,” Wyden said. “Access to clean drinking water is a human right, and this legislation is a key piece of the puzzle in helping identify just how far-reaching the water access gap is, and then responding with investments supporting those communities to close that gap across Oregon and nationwide.”
The WASH Act will improve both data on water and sanitation access, and expand options for water service delivery, by establishing a Water and Sanitation Needs Working Group to more accurately survey households in the United States that do not have complete access to water and sanitation services, and it establishes a pilot grant program designed to expand options for decentralized water service infrastructure.
“Access to clean water and safe sanitation are basic human rights,” says Dain M. Hansen, IAPMO executive vice president of Government Affairs. “On World Water Day — and every day — our mission at IAPMO is to leverage our resources and expertise to help address this critical national and worldwide issue. We are confident that these types of programs and policies, along with working with like-minded partners, will improve the quality of life for millions of the world’s citizens who struggle to access and reap the benefits of one of our most precious resources: water.”
Today’s congressional briefing and the introduction of the WASH Act are just a couple of the several wide-ranging initiatives in which IAPMO and IAPMO’s philanthropic arm, the International, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), are engaged in this month. They are working collaboratively with plumbing industry colleagues, government agencies, non-profits, and other organizations toward a common goal of clean drinking water and safe sanitation for all. Some of these include:
For more information on job training, product certification, and other plumbing resources to address the water needs of less advantaged areas, visit www.IAPMOGR.org.
ABOUT WORLD WATER DAY
World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance, started in 1993, that celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people currently living without access to safe water. A core focus of World Water Day is to inspire action towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
ABOUT IWSH
The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is the philanthropic arm of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®). For more information, visit www.iwsh.org
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Sponsor of the Uniform Codes, IAPMO® – The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials works in concert with government and industry for safe, sanitary plumbing and mechanical systems. Learn more about IAPMO at www.iapmo.org.
The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®) has been protecting the public’s health and safety for more than 95 years by working in concert with government and industry to implement comprehensive plumbing and mechanical systems around the world.
IAPMO provides leadership toward addressing the global need for sound water efficiency-based codes and standards while working to avoid unintended consequences that have the potential to compromise health and safety. IAPMO supports science-based research and policy-based initiatives at all levels of government, with the goal of helping provide for the safe use of water in buildings around the world.
To encourage development, action and change for better health, IAPMO’s foundation, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) has a simple mission to continuously work to improve on the human condition by fostering the basic human right of safe access to clean water and sanitation. While their mission is simple, their methods are strategic and diverse. IWSH strives to align their efforts with those of government, industry and the communities where they work to ensure that the water systems are safe and sustainable.
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