Focused Work, Real Reach: Inside the IWSH 2025 Impact Report

Plumbing rarely makes headlines when it works. But in 2025, it quietly reshaped daily life across communities worldwide through the work of the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH®). 

IWSH 2025 at a Glance

• 5,000+ individuals impacted by vital plumbing interventions
• 7 major community projects completed in 5 countries across 4 continents
• 100% of donor contributions directed toward project work 
• Transforming communities through plumbing

From restoring hot water at a community center in the Navajo Nation to improving sanitation infrastructure in Germany, Australia, and Zambia, IWSH delivered plumbing interventions that strengthened health, safety, and daily functioning, underscoring what targeted investments in skilled labor and quality plumbing can make possible. 

“Plumbing changes lives when it’s done right,” said Sean Kearney, Managing Director of IWSH. “In 2025, IWSH and our partners helped ensure that essential facilities could safely serve their communities, while also building local capacity and career pathways.” 

Why Plumbing Is One of the Most Undervalued Public Health Tools 

Plumbing is an unsung hero of public health because its greatest value lies in prevention. When systems are designed and installed correctly, they reduce health risks, protect essential services, and support daily life, long before problems surface. 

 That preventive mindset guides IWSH’s work. By combining skilled plumbers, quality products, and close collaboration with local communities, IWSH addresses complex water and sanitation challenges in underserved regions in ways that are practical, scalable, and built to last. As the public charity of IAPMO, IWSH brings technical expertise, workforce development, and industry standards to every project. 

2025 IWSH Project Highlights 

In 2025, IWSH focused on a small number of high-impact initiatives designed to be replicable and sustainable, including:

• Plumbing upgrades and repairs at community facilities serving Indigenous populations in North America.
• Workforce development and skills training initiatives supporting the next generation of plumbing professionals.
• Sanitation and hygiene improvements delivered through industry volunteerism in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, and Africa.
• Education and engagement programs elevating future WASH and plumbing leaders worldwide. 

Each project reflects IWSH’s commitment to applying plumbing expertise where it can deliver lasting public health benefits. 

IWSH Donor Support Is Direct and Accountable

IWSH directs 100% of donor contributions to a focused portfolio of 6–8 projects every year which showcase plumbing upgrades and repairs, wastewater solutions, workforce capacity building, and alternative water supplies.

“Our donors and partners are investing directly in solutions,” said Robyn Fischer, North American Director of IWSH. “Every project demonstrates what’s possible when skilled plumbers and industry expertise come together in the service of communities.” 

See the Full Impact of IWSH in 2025

Each initiative featured in the IWSH 2025 Impact Report is part of IWSH’s broader effort to advance water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions while elevating the plumbing profession and strengthening communities worldwide.

“This work demonstrates the real-world value of plumbing expertise,” said Dave Viola, CEO of IAPMO. “When it’s applied thoughtfully and in partnership with communities, it creates impact that lasts well beyond the installation.”