Plumbing Connects Health and Wealth

Plumbing systems connect homes, workplaces, and public services to safe water and sanitation, supporting economic prosperity, public health, and environmental sustainability in every community.

The Impact:

• Every $1 invested in water/sanitation yields $4.30 in economic benefits (UN)
• 3 of 4 global jobs depend on water availability (UN)
• Each job in the U.S. water sector creates 3.68 jobs nationally (U.S. Department of Commerce)

Plumbing Connects Innovation

Plumbing drives the transition to sustainable water management by connecting technology, professional expertise, and global best practices. Evidence-based plumbing standards provide a common framework that allows technologies such as graywater systems, rainwater harvesting, and smart water management to be safely integrated into existing systems.

The Impact:

• Between 2015 and 2024, global access to safely managed drinking water increased from 68% to 74% of the population (UN)
• From 2000–24, around 2.2 billion people gained access to safely managed drinking water and 2.8 billion gained safely managed sanitation (UN)
• 8.7 trillion gallons of water saved since 2006 through U.S. EPA WaterSense partners, resulting in $207 billion in utility bill savings (U.S. EPA)

Plumbing Connects Opportunities

The plumbing industry offers diverse career paths that combine technical skill, problem-solving, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference within communities. The growing global demand for skilled plumbers reflects the universal need to build, maintain, and modernize connected water and sanitation systems.

The Impact:

• $61,550: The median U.S. annual wage for plumbers as of May 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Investment in water and wastewater infrastructure supports long-term job growth and economic resilience
• The emerging circular water market opportunity (including reuse, resource recovery, and nature-based solutions) is valued at roughly tens of billions of dollars per year in the United States (Water Environment Federation)

Plumbing Connects Communities

Professional plumbing systems link buildings, neighborhoods, and cities, forming a critical defense against waterborne diseases and public health threats. Investment in professional plumbing infrastructure strengthens connected systems, delivers public health benefits, reduced water waste, and promotes economic development.

The Impact:

• Global water stress rose 2.8% from 2015 to 2021, affecting 18.6% of the population (UN)
• Since 2009, more than 3,000 natural disasters worldwide have caused $1.4 trillion in recovery costs, with significant impacts on water infrastructure (High Tide Technologies)
• By 2071, nearly 50% of U.S. freshwater basins may fail to meet monthly water demand (Columbia University)

Plumbing Connects Challenges with Solutions

The plumbing industry addresses complex challenges, such as water scarcity and poor water quality, by improving the performance and affordability of connected systems. Solutions such as water reuse and smart plumbing systems integrate with existing networks to manage water safely and efficiently.

The Impact:

• $177 billion in urban property and 15 million people could be protected by investing in flood protection infrastructure by 2030 (World Resources Institute)
• 1.4 million lives per year could be saved by improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (World Health Organization)
• Rainwater harvesting systems can reduce stormwater runoff volume by up to 20% in semi-arid regions, helping to prevent flooding and soil erosion in urban areas (Journal of the American Water Resources Association)

Plumbing Connects Everyone

Access to clean water and safe sanitation is a basic human right, and plumbing helps bridge the gap for underserved communities worldwide. The plumbing industry advances equitable access by designing and maintaining systems that deliver safe, reliable water for health, dignity, and quality of life.

The Impact:

• 2.2 billion people worldwide still lack safely managed drinking water services (World Health Organization)
• 443 million school days are lost annually due to water-related diseases, primarily in underserved regions (Change for Children)
• High water stress disproportionately affects women and threatens food security in arid and semi-arid regions (United Nations)