FROM THE CHAIRMAN - SHAYNE LA COMBRE
Very soon we will be hosting a meeting that we hope will bring our Members together in person to discuss all the different issues facing our industry around the world. Preparations are well underway for the World Plumbing Conference 2019 and we have some wonderful speakers and contributors to share with you over those three days in September. For World Plumbing Council Members, the event will begin with the 2019 General Meeting (GM) on Wednesday morning. If you have an item you would like added to the GM Agenda, or if you have not yet registered your attendance at that meeting, please contact the secretariat asap. Following the GM we move into three days of jam-packed events with four keynote presenters, over 20 guest speakers from ten different countries, social events for delegates and delegates accompanying partners, exhibits showcasing a range of international brands across the whole three days, breakout sessions presented by industry experts and simply so many opportunities to catch up with old friends and make many new. It has been wonderful to see the response so far with WPC Members and non-members alike having registered for the event. If you haven’t registered yet, ensure you visit the website and register soon: www.worldplumbingconference.com I personally look forward to welcoming you all to Melbourne! If you follow the WPC’s LinkedIn page, then you will likely have been seeing the fantastic posts from John Lansing (USA), the first of our 2018 WPC Scholarship recipients on his travels around the UK. John has been comparing the current regional engineering practices and plumbing codes used in the UK with those used in the United States. He had an excellent journey and has kindly put together a report which is shared with you in this Newsletter. Special thanks to all those who helped John while in the UK. The next 2018 scholarship recipient to travel will be Sudip Das (India) who will travel to the USA in August to undertake the WPC UA Scholarship before Swathi Saralaya (India) travels to Australia in September to undertake her Scholarship. The applications for 2019 Scholarships will open in late August, however we have already received many enquiries, so we expect to break records for applications once more this year. Any WPC Members who would like to assist in this process by joining the selection committee should get in touch with the secretariat as soon as possible. Finally, it is with sadness that I share the news with you that one of our longtime Members and former WPC Chair (2005-2008), George Bliss III, has passed away. George was truly dedicated to the betterment of the plumbing industry, particularly through his work in the development of training and education. Former WPC Chair Russ Chaney (2011-2013) has written an account for us of George Bliss III’s contribution to the industry as a professional, a mentor and friend.
Comparison between current regional engineering practices and plumbing codes used in the UK and the USA
The United States and United Kingdom were early sanitation innovators, which resulted in many aspects of plumbing systems developing in parallel, leading to fundamental differences in theory and application that exist in engineering standards today. These differences offer many opportunities to analyze the intent of approaches taken in plumbing engineering standards and theory, which was the primary inspiration for this study and pending report. Six months prior to departing for the UK, I began reading through key plumbing engineering standards and handbooks used by British public health engineers (plumbing engineers) which enabled me to familiarize myself with the industry, in addition to reading industry journals, such as those published by Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) and Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE). After arriving in the UK, I met with Kevin Wellman of CIPHE and Jonathan Gaunt of Society of Public Health Engineers (SoPHE, a subgroup of CIBSE) and discussed the current challenges the industry faces as well as collaboration opportunities with the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE). Meeting with consulting engineering firms throughout London provided opportunities to share design strategies and discuss technical requirements for public health systems. Some of the topics that frequently came up in were legionella growth mitigation, decarbonization of water heating – which will be required in all new construction by 2030 and existing buildings by 2050 throughout the United Kingdom and in a number of American cities, drainline carry with respect to reduced water-use, managing the effects of increased rainfall as a result of climate change, and sanitary venting design standards. I traveled north to Scotland where I visited Heriot-Watt University, a global leader in water supply and drainage research, to get a perspective on where research is trending in areas of sanitary drainage and venting systems as well as peak water demand in domestic water supply systems. In addition to arrangements directly related to research for the report, I visited a number of historically important sanitation landmarks in England. These landmarks included the Broad Street Pump, which is where the association between cholera and contaminated drinking water supplies was proven - leading to the Public Health Act of 1875 which required plumbing systems be installed in every dwelling, ruins of roman era toilets near the border of Scotland, and an exhibit highlighting the development of the water closet throughout the last three centuries. |
It is very exciting to be introducing this edition of the WPC News to you. We have received a record number of contributions outside of our World Plumbing Day wrap-up editions. Articles have been submitted from India, the USA, Australia, Philippines, New Zealand and the UK. We are covering a wide range of topics from the water crisis facing the citizens of Chennai, to the fight in Texas to keep their plumbing industry intact and a peek into a day in the life of a plumber in tropical north Queensland. There is something for everyone and it is wonderful to see so many of our Members getting involved and sending in news items to share with the world.
By John Lansing, WPC Scholarship recipient 2018 |
WPC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS 2019 – Opening 28 August WPC Scholarship Applications will open on the 28th of August 2019 and close on the 2nd of October. The WPC has received many expressions of interest already and all those who have been in contact will receive notification when applications open and an email will be sent out to all Members and all who receive the WPC News. Judging committee: Each year we also request volunteers from the WPC Membership Community to assist with evaluating the applications. This requires only a few hours of your time, primarily to read through the applications and evaluate them against the pre-determined criteria. Please contact the secretariat to part of the 2019 committee.
WORLD PLUMBING CONFERENCE 2019 — EIGHT WEEKS TO GO! WPC 2019 will be underway in just under eight weeks! Read all about the program we have lined up for delegates attending WPC 2019 here. |
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Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland, Australia This year, MPAQ staff are spending some time with our members doing, what they do and seeing what they see. The experiences recorded in our ‘Day in the life of a Master Plumber’ project will be shared with potential future apprentices at career expos attended by MPAQ’s Ambassadors to get an understanding of what life as a plumber could mean for them. |
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Plumbing Industry Stalwart appointed with Honours To read about Bill Watson’s extensive career click here (PDF).
" The Global Water Availability PLUMBING SKILLS MAHOTSAV 2019 |
Bill Watson, Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) Life Member and Stalwart, was appointed today in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) for his services to the plumbing industry.
I Save Water" |
ZERO DAY Mr Duggal’s article ZERO DAY, is a follow up to his case study from 2013 that was published by the Indian Plumbing Association, titled “Beginning of the end” and also published in the World Plumbing Council book “Environmental Aspects of Plumbing”. Now, five years later India is having serious water issues. The case study highlights the alarming situation in the south Indian city of Chennai and other metro areas. Duggal reports that more than 350 municipal corporations are helpless and can provide water only once every 3 days, for an hour, as reported in times of India. To continue reading click here (PDF)
Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, New Zealand New Zealand has the highest reported incidence of Legionnaires' disease in the world, a new study has found. The country's first national study into the burden of the respiratory infection, a form of pneumonia, found three times the number of cases than previously reported. The research, led by University of Otago, Christchurch Professor David Murdoch, tested respiratory samples of Kiwis admitted to hospital with pneumonia in search of the bacteria that causes the potentially deadly disease. A total of 238 cases – 5.4 cases for every 100,000 Kiwis – were identified between May 2015 and May 2016. To continue reading the full article from stuff.co.nz, click here To read the LegiNZ national surveillance study click here (PDF)
Rwanda Plumbing Organisation Kigali, 17 May, 2019 - The Rwandan Plumbing Organisation received a gift of plumbing code and training text books from the United Association and IAPMO. Former WPC Scholarship winner, Mr Twagirimana said “This gift of books is already of use to me and my brother plumbers and it is a very good start for the RPO to deliver professional plumbing training.” |
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Water Sustainability and Resilience, A Plumbing Challenge of the 21st Century:
Approximately sixteen million hectares of the total thirty million hectares of land are classified as forest land. Presently, almost sixty percent are deforested and seas along the coastlines are projected to be at risk of being identified as a marine dead zones in the future. In this article, Dumalay presents an argument for using the traditional Filipino method of washing utilising a pail and dipper in an effort to save water at the household level. To read the full article click here (PDF)
Report from the Goldman Sachs Industrial Research Meeting Mr Kaufmann gave information on the vast potential to our industry in the emerging markets and on (future) technologies, including the 6 Bathroom Planning Trends in new constructions, developed here in Europe:
Fight To Save the Plumbing Industry In Texas Many plumbers and plumbing organizations were continuously utilizing social media to keep one another and their members updated on the progress of the legislation. Once word of the state lawmaker’s failure to compromise on a safety net bill to save the state plumbing law prior to the ending of the legislative session became public, many of the social media sites exploded with comments. To the credit of every plumber in the state, instead of focusing on the negative side of the situation, and being the problem solvers we are, we utilized social media to organize ourselves with a single message to the governor of Texas: We want our state plumbing law and licenses back! |
When the Spaniards stepped on the Philippine islands in the 15th century, it was written and described as the land of abundance: food, water and gold. |
NITC participates with WPC in support of 2016 – 2019 Objectives and beyond National Inspection Testing & Certification (NITC) is a Full Member Organization partner of the World Plumbing Council. As a third-party test administrator, NITC supports the WPC’s objective to create a global network by offering individuals in the international plumbing community, at all levels of participation and interest, a recognized measure of knowledge, skills, and ability through third-party assessment. To read the full article click here (PDF)
IAPMO, Industry Owe a Great Deal to George Bliss
It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of retired UA Director of Training George H. Bliss, III, on April 16. George was my friend, my mentor, in many ways a father figure, and truly an inspirational influence on my life and career. George was initiated into Plumbers Local 5 in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 14, 1955, and retired April 1, 2005. He dedicated his entire professional career to education and training, beginning as an instructor with Local 5. He became assistant director of Training for the UA in 1973, and in 1997 he was named Director. He also served as chairman of the Building and Construction Trades Department (now North America’s Building Trades Unions-NABTU) Apprenticeship and Training Committee. In 2005, he was appointed Chairman of the World Plumbing Council and served for three years. To read Russ’s full eulogy for George Bliss click here (PDF)
IAPMO Oceana Moves Into State-of-the-Art New Research Center IAPMO R&T Oceana recently moved operations in Victoria, Australia, to a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility that will house its research center, product testing laboratory and administrative offices. The building in Narre Warren, which IAPMO R&T Oceana will share with the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC), is expected to be the first education and research facility in the state of Victoria to be accredited to the Australian government’s net zero building standard. Geothermal heating and cooling, as well as a solar photovoltaic system, will generate enough energy to power the building. The ground source heat pump system, which will heat and cool the building, consists of 220 wells and integrates thermal heat loops within the structural screw piles for geothermal heat exchange. The facility is the first in Australia to utilize building foundation screw piling to source geothermal energy for its heating and cooling requirements. A photovoltaic array consisting of 770 panels will produce up to 275 kilowatts of electricity, and the energy-efficient design maximizes northern exposure. An insulated wall design will achieve an R-value that exceeds National Construction Code requirements and assists in maintaining thermal comfort. “Our new six-star energy-rated facility at Narre Warren with the purposely built and technologically advanced gas laboratory gives IAPMO an opportunity to raise the bar and offer our clients a faster and more efficient path to market in both WaterMark and GasMark certification,” IAPMO Oceana Managing Director Paul Bonsak said. “The joint venture between the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre and IAPMO brings together technology and training in our industry. We at IAPMO are very excited by the opportunity to work in and take advantage of such a world-class facility.” The campus also has a 120-seat general auditorium, 12 training rooms, confined spaces and roof access training. Accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ), IAPMO R&T Oceana operates an effective quality system in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 65 General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems. IAPMO R&T Oceana certifies plumbing and drainage products to use the WaterMark™ symbol and strongly supports the federal government’s introduction of the Water Efficiency Labeling Scheme (WELS), an important initiative affecting manufacturers of plumbing products, sanitary ware and white goods. IAPMO offers gas certification, GasMark™, and National Association of Testing Authorities, Australian (NATA)-accredited laboratory testing services to Australia Gas Certification requirements. IAPMO has developed and offers its own OceanaMark™ standards.
CPC NAVAJO MOUNTAIN DELIVERS WATER AND SANITATION TO SERIES OF HOMES The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation’s (IWSH) latest Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) concluded in June, with a team of volunteer tradespeople from all over the United States and Australia converging on a remote mountainous region on the Arizona-Utah border to bring clean, running water and safe wastewater disposal to a series of homes on a Navajo reservation. Presented in collaboration with the award-winning DigDeep Navajo Water Project, CPC Navajo Mountain facilitated the work of volunteers who connected a water supply for each house from tanks through a pump and wastewater system, and installed a gas tankless hot water system in each house. A bathroom was designed and installed in 83-year-old Betty Benally’s house, and Lillie Manygoats, 84, had her 20-year-old home’s bathroom and kitchen connected to a water and plumbing system for the first time. A septic tank was installed and a leach field was dug at each of their homes. Lillie Benally, her husband, and two children live with her disabled mother, Betty, for whom Lillie serves as caregiver. Before the CPC, helping bathe her mother involved building a fire to heat the water, bringing in a little tub, and then having to take everything out when it was over. The new bathroom includes a bathtub with nearby grab handle and plenty of space for both of them. “It’s going to be much easier here, where the water just drains and you don’t have to worry about taking it out, and just have the water running instead of having to bring the water in,” Benally said. “I think that’s a lot less stress just for me to get her ready for the day. So it’s going to be much easier.” Among the volunteers was United Association Local 469 (Phoenix) member Gary Nez, who grew up under similar circumstances on a nearby Navajo reservation. “I grew up without running water and electricity, but when you see a family like this with young kids around, they get to see the water come through the faucet, and I’m waiting for that,” he said shortly before completion. “To have the opportunity to volunteer and contribute back to my people like this, and to be accountable for all the things that I’ve installed, it’s a blessing.” The event benefited from the support of such prominent organizations as LIXIL, Ferguson, Milwaukee Tool, WinSupply, Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC), and the Piping Industry Progress & Education (P.I.P.E.) Trust Fund/NITC. Additionally, four United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the United States, Canada (UA) chapters — Local 78 in Los Angeles; Local 400 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin; Local 412 in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas; and Local 469 in Phoenix — and Healthabitat sent members and/or made financial contributions. “It is a privilege to once again work among the Navajo people,” said Dan Daniels, chairman of the IWSH Board of Trustees. “The goal and mission of IWSH is to provide access to water and sanitation to those who need it most. Regardless of whether that’s around the world or in our own backyard, we are going to do our very best to ensure people have access to this fundamental human right. Industry, from skilled trades to manufacturers, brings incredible value and has an important role to play in finding sustainable solutions.” Companies or organizations wishing to support future editions of the international CPC program are encouraged to get in touch via info@iwsh.org. |
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DATES FOR DIARY WPC 2019 IAPMO 90th Annual Education and Business Conference / 2019 ASSE International Annual Meeting Contact secretariat@worldplumbing.org to provide an event report or request listing of an upcoming event. |
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