Lowndes County, Ala. — The International Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) returned to Lowndes County, Alabama, recently to teach local high school students how to conduct household plumbing surveys that assess the quality and function of homes’ plumbing systems.
“IWSH’s survey provides the necessary information to guide home plumbing repairs, helping us to create a more sustainable wastewater program,” BBUWP Executive Director Sherry Bradley said. “The training IWSH led for the local high school students will equip teenagers with the education and tools to conduct these surveys and perform a much-needed service in their own community. We see these kids learning the correct words about plumbing systems and understanding what’s not working within homes, and why. The students are now an integral part of improving people’s quality of life in Lowndes County.”
Washington, D.C. (April 28, 2023)— Sajal Jain, a sixth-grade student at A.P.S. Senior Secondary School in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, is the winner of the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation’s 2023 poster contest.IWSH Improving Access to Hygiene
Facilities for American Indian Students
at Bacone College
Muskogee, Oklahoma (April 13, 2023) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) team, with support from volunteers, constructed a laundry facility for the students living on campus at Bacone College, Oklahoma’s oldest operating institution of higher learning, which has served American Indian students for 140 years.
To help provide these students with convenient and efficient laundry facilities, the IWSH team spent the first week of April fully remodeling an existing classroom, transforming it into a laundry facility that includes two sets of washers and dryers, and a wash sink. The work included installing drains, water lines, gas piping, and venting, and was implemented by volunteer, licensed plumbers.
Frankfurt am Main, Germany — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) and the World Plumbing Council (WPC) will host 12 young plumbers from seven different countries at ISH 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany, to showcase the job skills needed by today's plumbing professionals.
In the latest edition of the WPC-IWSH Plumbing Champions program, the plumbers will assemble pre-wall frame systems and internal plumbing during the first three days of the ISH show. The systems will then be transported to and installed in bathrooms at Niddahalle, part of the Eintracht Frankfurt sports club in the west of the city, which is undergoing modernization retrofits. The showcase demonstration will run from March 13-17.
The Eintracht Frankfurt sports club is the social partner for this new Plumbing Champions initiative at ISH 2023, the world's leading trade fair for the HVAC and plumbing industries held biennially in the city. “Plumbing Champions is a first for ISH Frankfurt 2023,” said Stefan Seitz, Messe Frankfurt’s director of Brand Management for ISH 2023. “Our theme for this year’s show is ‘Solutions for a Sustainable Future,’ and we are pleased to work with the WPC and IWSH to give something back to our host city while simultaneously bringing our theme to life.”
The bathrooms in Niddahalle are more than 40 years old, built before today's high-efficiency plumbing solutions that use less water. “Frankfurt is a water-stressed area. Drought conditions threatened significant economic damage last year when water on the Rhine got so low it impeded barge traffic,” said Dave Viola, CEO of IAPMO and IWSH (IAPMO’s philanthropic arm) and deputy chair of the WPC. “The plumbing industry can alleviate water stress through improved water technology and a skilled workforce. We're here to demonstrate it in real life.”
The WPC will bring Plumbing Champions to Frankfurt from the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA), the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (Australia), Apprenticeship Training Trust (New Zealand) and the Connect Trade Union (Ireland); all hosted and working together alongside peers from the Frankfurt branch of Innung Sanitär Heizung Klima (SHK), the master craftsperson’s guild for sanitation, heating and air conditioning in the city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
“Plumbing Champions provides a unique international learning and networking experience for up-and-coming plumbers from across the WPC membership,” WPC Chair and UA Director of Plumbing Services Tom Bigley said. “Plumbing Champions celebrates youth, diversity and new approaches shaping the future of our industry.”
The following Plumbing Champions are scheduled to participate: Patrick Howorka, Alexander Tödter and Colin Cubr (Germany); Danny Hoekstra (Australia); Sam Madgin (New Zealand); Veronika Schächle (Liechtenstein); Alex Svetz (United States); Elijah Sommers (Canada); and Jamie Bermingham and James Stenson (Ireland).
This new Plumbing Champions initiative will showcase retrofit approaches that advance energy-efficient goals for the built environment: critical industry requirements set out in modern-day, international agendas such as the European Green Deal. The team will perform tasks including joining and bending hot and cold water piping systems, installing cisterns and brackets for water closets and basins, and joining HDPE waste pipe. Participants will install plumbing systems designed by Geberit, a European leader in sanitary products working in partnership with the Frankfurt branch of Innung SHK.
“We are grateful to the World Plumbing Council for creating Plumbing Champions to increase awareness and understanding of the essential roles and responsibilities of plumbers — installing and maintaining advanced technologies to build stronger and more resilient communities,” said Peter Paul Thoma, chairman of the plumbers guild of Frankfurt.
A promotional video may be viewed HERE.
Ontario, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2022)— The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) was pleased to have participated in the Plumbing and Heating event at WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition (WSC2022SE), Nov. 2-4 at GROHE Technikum in Lahr, Germany. The competition showcased national champions from 20 WorldSkills member countries.IAPMO Celebrates International
Plumbing Champions as Global
Industry Partner of WorldSkills
Competition 2022 Special Edition
Ontario, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2022)— The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®) is excited to resume its participation with WorldSkills as a Global Industry Partner for the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition (WSC2022SE), now underway across the globe.2022 IWSH Awards Recognize
Exceptional Volunteers
Charlotte, N.C. (Sept. 14, 2022) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) on Monday honored two volunteers for their participation and exceptional contributions to IWSH programs seeking to bring clean water and safe, reliable sanitation to those most in need. The winners were announced during the opening session of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials’ (IAPMO) 93rd annual Education and Business Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.Bradley and Lavoie were key participants in the IWSH CPC program launched in Lowndes County, Alabama, in March 2022. The CPC was a collaboration with the BBUWP and LIXIL to perform plumbing repairs and upgrades for a series of homes and develop a framework for ongoing plumbing industry support to the BBUWP. Bradley provided local leadership that helped IWSH understand the challenges the community faces and how best to target its services, and Lavoie obtained an Alabama Master plumber license to help oversee the project.
IWSH board member Tom Gugino presented the awards.
“I am so proud to see IWSH working to improve sanitation and demonstrating how important it is that these systems be installed thoughtfully by plumbing professionals,” Gugino said. “Sherry Bradley and Michael Lavoie were two ‘rockstar’ IWSH partners who were integral to the success of the Community Plumbing Challenge in Alabama earlier this year. Given their outstanding efforts and commitment to improving the lives of others, it is with great pleasure that I announce Sherry and Michael as the recipients of the 2022 IWSH Award.”
Speaking during a follow-up IWSH panel presentation, Bradley said she was surprised and speechless to receive the award.
She estimated that 80% of the homes in the rural Lowndes County area used straight pipes for plumbing that resulted in sewage on the ground, and for 25 years wondered why something hasn’t been done about a generational issue that has led to numerous health problems for the community.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, but with IWSH a dream has come true,” she said, adding, “Things have turned around big time. There’s trust and there’s cooperation.”
Lavoie said it was an honor and a privilege to be part of the team.
“What better way to apply my skills to something like this to help people get clean water and sanitation, which should be two human rights?” he said. “We can try to get that school of thought going on for the world and make a little bit of change here and there, so I just wanted to add my hands and my time to it.”
“It is an honor for our IWSH team to have connected and worked with both Sherry and Michael over the last couple of years, and this IWSH Award recognition is thoroughly deserved in both cases,” IWSH Managing Director Seán Kearney said. “This is a two-way street; our very best collaborations are always built on shared learning and gaining experience together, as partners, always working toward the same aim: providing improved access to clean water and safe sanitation where people need it most. Thanks to the collaboration of exceptional and inspirational people like Sherry and Michael, IWSH can go on increasing its abilities and effectiveness as a unique public charity operating in the plumbing industry and WASH sector.”
Visit www.iwsh.org/ to learn more about the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation.
Washington, D.C. (Aug. 18, 2022) — In preparation for the start of the Navajo Nation’s first dedicated plumbing training program later this month, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) has finished the construction and setup of a new plumbing classroom and wet lab at the Navajo Technical University Kirtland Instructional Site in Kirtland, New Mexico.
“Our IWSH team, in collaboration with DigDeep, has put together a solid plumbing program that will provide multiple opportunities for the students of NTU,” said IWSH North American Program Director Randy Lorge. “It’s the first plumbing program of its kind for the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners region. The class and wet lab will help provide students with hands-on, practical learning, which can help develop a skilled workforce that can support future water and sanitation services in these communities.”
“In June, UA Local 412 members, IWSH North American Program Director Jed Scheuermann, NTU staff and I put the finishing touches on the lab by installing the plumbing fixtures, appliances and related piping needed to finish the job,” Lorge said. “It was a humbling experience to see all the planning and work everyone did finally come together.”
Washington, D.C. (June 28, 2022) — More than 1.57 million Americans live without a toilet or tap at home, costing the U.S. economy $8.58 billion every year, according to a report produced by DigDeep with contributions from partners including the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®).
“While speaking to communities for our 2019 report, we heard devastating stories about impacts to people’s health, employment, leisure time, and general well-being,” DigDeep Founder and CEO George McGraw said. “Now we are finally able to measure the true magnitude of those impacts in real dollars. We must close the water access gap. As this report shows, we can’t afford not to.”
While the water access gap is wide and deep, it is solvable — to the benefit of numerous parties even beyond the individuals and families suffering from a lack of access to water and sanitation. With the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts of 2021, $55 billion in water-specific infrastructure funding is available to be spent over the next five years.
Since much of that investment will be used to upgrade and repair existing systems, DigDeep notes that targeted investments are needed for new access and to close the water gap for good.
The report’s authors suggest the following action steps to solve the problem:
“As a technical adviser for this report, IAPMO was pleased to work with the broad coalition of organizations that contributed to this research, and we wholeheartedly endorse these recommendations,” IAPMO Executive Vice President of Government Relations Dain Hansen said. “Access to clean water and safe sanitation is a basic right, and closing the water access gap means advancing equity and righting historical wrongs. IAPMO is proud to be a strong advocate for every community to be able to access the financial and technical resources required to close this water and sanitation access gap.”
Washington, D.C. (March 14, 2022) — Ferguson, a leading value-added distributor in North America providing expertise, solutions, and products from infrastructure, plumbing and appliances to HVAC, fire, fabrication and more, and Uponor North America, a global pioneer in intelligent plumbing and climate solutions, have both announced their continued support for the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation’s (IWSH) Community Plumbing Challenge™ (CPC) program, the most recent of which begins today in Lowndes County, Alabama.
Bengaluru, India (Jan. 27, 2022) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is pleased to announce its support for a cause led by Woloo, an Indian startup company whose app aims to ensure women access to clean, safe and hygienic toilets in public places.
Washington, D.C. (Dec. 15, 2021) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is pleased to announce that the Association of Contracting Plumbers of the City of New York, Inc. (ACPCNY), has made a generous contribution to IWSH in support of programs that bring safe water and sanitation to people everywhere.
“As a tenet of the association, we believe it’s our obligation to ensure everyone is provided with safe drinking water,” said ACP Executive Vice President Terence O’Brien. “We also strive to support worthy causes whenever possible. When we became aware of IWSH it connected these two core objectives. Supporting altruistic causes like IWSH is even more vital when times are difficult, and the last couple of years have been unprecedently so. We hope this contribution provides what we all consider a basic human right in clean, readily available drinking water.”
Washington, D.C. (Nov. 22, 2021) — This #GivingTuesday, Nov. 30, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is working with the Rwanda Plumbers Organization (RPO) to launch the construction of new toilet and hand-washing facilities for Munazi Primary School in Gisagara District, Southern Province.New IWSH Collaboration Repairs Plumbing,
Sanitation Facilities at Johannesburg
Homeless Shelter
Washington, D.C. (Oct. 8, 2021) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) supported a recently completed project to repair toilets, basins and showers at an inner-city homeless shelter in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“We can't do these projects alone,” she said. “Everyone brings a different resource to the table and each contribution is valued equally because we don't all have the same background or access to the same things. And thank goodness for that or the world would be a very boring place.”
Washington, D.C. (Oct. 6, 2021) —The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) has presented three new IWSH Awards to Milwaukee School of Engineering students Kathryn Ashley and Sarah Ceurvorst and Plumbers Local 68 director of Marketing and Recruitment Jeremy Pavlich.
The awards were presented by IAPMO President David Gans and Vice President Steve Panelli as part of the opening session of IAPMO’s 92nd annual Education and Business Conference, hosted online Sept. 27-30.
“It is my distinct privilege to present the IWSH Award to a trio of recipients who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of others through their work on an IWSH project, motivated others to become involved, and exhibited a passion for helping and educating others in the WASH sector,” Panelli said.
Individual IWSH Awards were presented to the duo of Ashley and Ceurvorst, students from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. The women led a range of key testing and troubleshooting activities on two unique prototype handwashing units, originally designed by IWSH and DigDeep staff, and built during winter 2020 in collaboration with UA Local 400 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Their contributions to the inaugural Wash Station Challenge helped reduce the weight and production cost and improve mobility of the two prototypes before a finalized design went forward to be built at 10 separate UA Locals located across the United States this June and July. As a result, 21 mobile wash stations were built and shipped to the Navajo Nation, where they are being deployed by the DigDeep Navajo Water Project to provide community handwashing capacity through the winter of 2021 and onward.
“This award isn’t for me,” Ceurvorst said. “It’s for the Navajo Nation and anybody who benefits from this project — really anybody who’s benefiting through IWSH or science and engineering; this is who we’re doing this for.”
“I want to give this award a shoutout to all of the little girls who are out there trying to do something with STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] or not sure they want to do something with STEM or engineering,” Ashley said. “You are recognized, and you matter; as long as you stick with it and are passionate about it, you can go places.”
A third IWSH Award was presented to Pavlich, the backbone of “Safer Water for Nome,” a two-phase collaboration between IWSH and Local 68 to assess water quality and provide corrective measures for the community of around 500 people.
Jeremy worked tirelessly to connect residents and elected officials with licensed and certified plumbers, hosting a town hall during which he led a discussion on water quality, infrastructure and programs available to the community, and participating in “Days of Action,” during which assessments were performed to determine which chemicals and other waterborne pathogens are present in the drinking water.
“We listened to some local kids who had concerns about their drinking water,” Pavlich said. “These kids wanted to get to the bottom of why their water had issues with mustiness, with color, with taste. When it comes down to it, we applied the scientific method, we used licensed plumbers with certifications, and we found out what their issue was and how to remedy that situation.
Washington, D.C. (Aug. 25, 2021) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is honored to announce that Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 and the Southwest Pipe Trades Association have become the latest IWSH Gold-level Global Partners.
Washington, D.C. (May 27, 2021) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is excited to launch the Wash Station Challenge 2021, a new collaboration with the DigDeep Navajo Water Project, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA), and Ferguson.
Nome, Texas (April 7, 2021) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) will be represented during a unique town hall meeting in southeast Texas on Friday, as UA Plumbers Local Union 68 (Houston) educates residents about the “Safer Water for Nome” pilot project. 
Washington, D.C. (March 26, 2021) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is excited to announce three longtime supporters — the Piping Industry Progress & Education Trust Fund (P.I.P.E.), UA Plumbers Local 78, and the World Plumbing Council (WPC) — have renewed their commitment to being IWSH Global Partners, coinciding with this week’s celebration of World Water Day.
Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2021) — As part of its celebration of World Plumbing Day, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is pleased to announce it has renewed its partnership with Ferguson to expand access to life-saving water and sanitation services in the United States.
Washington, D.C. (March 11, 2021) — In recognition of World Plumbing Day, The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Uponor North America that will help address critical water and sanitation inequities in the United States.
Washington, D.C. (March 10, 2021) —The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) and the Rwanda Plumbers Organization (RPO) today announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will provide a framework for collaboration between the two parties. The signing of the two-year MOU is timed to coincide with World Plumbing Day 2021, an occasion that recognizes the vital impact the plumbing industry has on public health, environmental sustainability and economic prosperity across the globe.
“Safer Water for Nome” will be a two-phase project. In Phase 1, slated to commence this month, 25 journeymen plumbers — nine of whom are contractors — will take training classes with the goal of becoming certified in ASSE 12060/12061: Professional Qualifications Standard for Water Management and Infection Control Risk Assessment for Building Systems. The Houston Area Plumbing Joint Apprenticeship Committee (HAPJAC) will host the training classes with a qualified instructor. Each participant will then take an ASSE International third party-administered certification examination.
“BORDA South Asia’s plan for the next few years is focused on small town (South Asia) water and sanitation service delivery, which includes direct interventions in eight small towns in India, Bangladesh and Nepal,” said Stanzin Tsephel, regional director for BORDA South Asia. “Our initial assessment is that the technical infrastructure needs upgrades, and municipal engineers need technical capacity building. This is where we think technical organizations like IAPMO can be of great benefit to these municipalities.” 
“This is a unique training collaboration between BORDA and IWSH in India,” Saralaya said. “The plumbers utilizing this training will be introduced to effective plumbing systems. We are hoping that this will enable them to understand the principles of good plumbing and adopt the same in the installations they carry out.”
Two prototype units were recently unveiled at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), where students Kathryn Ashley and Sarah Ceurvorst — both members of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers — are leading a range of testing and troubleshooting activities involving the school community and general public through the winter months. People using the stations are encouraged to complete a survey that may be accessed by scanning an accompanying QR code.
“UA 400 is excited to be a part of this critical project,” UA Local 400 Business Manager Trevor Martin said. “UA 400’s members are proud to volunteer their skills and knowledge to such a worthy effort! IWSH and DigDeep continue to do great work throughout the United States and the world, providing safe water and hygiene solutions to the most remote corners of the globe.”
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) centers on the Lusaka WASH Academy College (LWAC), the hub for PAZA activities and outreach across the region. LWAC has recently moved premises, relocating to a new site within the African Future College in Lusaka, and upgrading accreditations with the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority of Zambia (TEVETA). IWSH has provided a donation toward these registrations, plus the purchase of tools and resources for the upcoming academic year.
Viola has more than 25 years of senior management experience within the plumbing and mechanical industry. He joined IAPMO in 2007 and has served as IAPMO’s chief operating officer for the past seven years, with strategic and operational responsibility for the comprehensive array of IAPMO Group programs and services.The potential for these collaborations has come into sharper focus against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic through the first half of 2020, when the WPC Executive Board connected IWSH with member organizations in Zambia, Rwanda, and South Africa with the goal of facilitating and supporting local plumbing industry responses to disease prevention in their communities, primarily through the design and development of new hand-washing facilities and public health and hygiene awareness activities.
In Zambia, IWSH and the Plumbers Association of Zambia (PAZA) collaborated on a pilot program to provide more than 50 hand-washing stands to the SOS Children’s Village in the capital city of Lusaka.
In Rwanda, IWSH worked with the Rwanda Plumbers Organization (RPO) to support community hand-washing and public health awareness activities. Building on the design and donation of new mobile hand-washing stations via a World Plumbing Day 2020 workshop at the Integrated Polytechnic Regional College (IPRC) in the Huye district, RPO members delivered additional stations to three primary schools, two high schools and five vulnerable households in the Musanze district.
In South Africa, IWSH, the Institute of Plumbing, South Africa (IOPSA) and the British Plumbers Employment Council (BPEC) are supporting a Water Amenities and Sanitation Services Upgrading Program (WASSUP) Diepsloot initiative to repair 2,000 communal taps in 50 days.
“For the last few years, IWSH and WPC have collaborated closely around our ongoing international Community Plumbing Challenge program,” said Seán Kearney, IWSH Managing Director. “Today WPC represents a unique network of plumbing industry representatives — expertise all over the world — so it is an excellent platform for IWSH to continue building partnerships within. We hope that from our new position as an Affiliate member we can continue to grow and develop more new and creative plumbing initiatives that will provide improved water, sanitation and hygiene in more locations, and in partnership with more industry groups and sector organizations.”
In recognition of World Plumbing Day — a date established by the WPC and celebrated across the globe every March 11 — an RPO team recently designed and donated a mobile hand-washing station via a plumbing workshop hosted at the Integrated Polytechnic Regional College (IPRC) in the Huye district, an activity also intended to remind plumbers-in-training of their essential responsibility in protecting public health. Due to the positive impact of the new facility at IPRC Huye during the COVID-19 pandemic, the RPO has been inspired to extend the project to schools in the Musanze district.
“Tackle a Tap” is a nine-week program that brings together a unique group of plumbing industry partners, local and international, in the fight against COVID-19. Local community host WASSUP Diepsloot will welcome volunteer plumbers from the Institute of Plumbing, South Africa (IOPSA) and further technical support and resources from leading South African plumbing merchant Plumblink. These efforts are being further supported by fellow WPC Member organizations BPEC (British Plumbers Employment Council) and the IWSH Foundation.
“We have identified five young people, who are from our community and appreciate what we are doing, for the upcoming program of repairing taps,” said WASSUP member Princess Zondi. “I myself was introduced to WASSUP by a youth program, Project Vuthela; I went to a plumbing school in Pretoria, and then I was bought to WASSUP to do my practical work. After some months, I became employed with them!”The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) has announced a financial donation to DigDeep’s ongoing efforts to provide safe, potable water to the Navajo Nation in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
DigDeep is distributing 248,000 gallons of bottled Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water to approximately 16 different sites across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, provided as emergency relief to the Navajo Nation by Nestlé Waters North America. IWSH’s financial donation will be used to support local delivery teams and volunteers who have stepped up to help transport water “the last mile” to elders, those infected and under quarantine, and people without personal transportation.
"It has been a big transition for us to go from doing long-term water access projects to relief work, but we are still committed to carrying out our mission of getting drinking water to families on the Navajo Nation, which is one of the most critical needs during this pandemic,” said Emma Robbins, DigDeep Navajo Water Project Director. “Receiving this generous donation from IWSH will allow us to continue this work and will go a very long way toward keeping those on the Nation safe and healthy. We are fortunate to partner with IWSH once again, and with all the on-the-ground public health workers, volunteers, and the tribal government to make this happen."
The actions of DigDeep and its team in the Navajo Nation at this time are bought in sharper focus as National Drinking Water Week is observed across the United States, from May 3-9. #DrinkingWaterWeek is an initiative of the American Water Works Association, recognizing the vital role water plays in our daily lives.
The Navajo Nation remains one of the most water-poor areas of the United States. A population of approximately 175,000 people spread out across a vast and often remote area of 27,000 square miles, Navajo are 67 times more likely than other Americans to live without indoor plumbing, running water or a toilet. During the coronavirus pandemic — during which time handwashing has been continually highlighted as vital to preventing the spread of COVID-19 — the reservation is experiencing the third-highest rate of COVID-19 cases per capita among all American states and territories, behind only New York and New Jersey.
“The daily struggle of the Navajo people, in terms of their lack of access to safe water and adequate sanitation, is heartbreaking,” said Jed Scheuermann, IWSH North American Project Director. “The situation of the current pandemic is making things impossible, for far too many. Through our previous IWSH-DigDeep initiatives, I’ve seen first-hand how we can help give the Navajo a fighting chance to change this horrific reality. Hopefully, this latest water delivery effort will be another significant action. Huge thanks to the IWSH network of donors and sponsors for their continued support at this time.”
IWSH has collaborated with the DigDeep Navajo Water Project since June 2018, when the organizations joined forces to launch the first Community Plumbing Challenge program in the United States. So far, this initiative has delivered plumbing outreach projects for households in the Baca-Prewitt, N.M., and Navajo Mountain, Arizona, areas of the reservation.
Accompanying photos
IWSH Appoints Seán Kearney as
New Managing Director
The International, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation, charitable arm of The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), has promoted Seán Kearney to the role of IWSH Managing Director.
Since joining The IAPMO Group in 2015, Kearney has overseen development of the international Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) program, which has grown into the flagship initiative of the IWSH Foundation today. Over the past five years, he has directed projects launched in India, South Africa, Indonesia, and most recently the United States.
Following his education at the National College of Art & Design and Trinity College, both in Dublin, Ireland, Kearney represented the Emerald Isle as a competitor in Graphic Design Technology at the WorldSkills international competition in 2005. His participation led to work with WorldSkills, initially as a volunteer before employment as a workshop manager, secretariat and project developer, gaining project management experience in countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
He worked for the WorldSkills Foundation during its start-up period from 2013-15, during which time the Community Plumbing Challenge concept was established, alongside several other skills showcase projects and sustainability initiatives that Kearney has continued to develop under IAPMO’s WorldSkills Global Partnership to this day. Most notable of these was the recent Plumbing and Heating “Champions” initiative, presented in Kazan, Russia, last year, which resulted in the international skills competition providing new toilet and washrooms to a local orphanage for special needs children.
In his new role, Kearney will provide additional strategic and organizational leadership across the IWSH team, as the Foundation further grows its reputation and expands its impact in the international water, sanitation and hygiene sector. He continues to provide guidance to the design and delivery of other international programs and partnerships of The IAPMO Group.
“Sean has a significant amount of experience spearheading philanthropic efforts to bring dignity, health and optimism to those individuals who need it most through community-based efforts that bring forward safe water and proper sanitation” said IAPMO Chief Operating Officer Dave Viola. “With his leadership skills, knowledge, empathy, and unique ability to leverage partnerships, I’m confident that Sean will be successful in his new position.”
Previous IWSH Managing Director Dain Hansen was promoted to IAPMO Executive Vice President of Government Relations but will remain integrally involved in the foundation’s work as part of the management team.
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the IWSH Foundation has been reaching out to the people who have welcomed its teams into their communities and homes over the past four years. To launch these efforts, IWSH joined forces with the current Community Plumbing Challenge Indonesia host partners in Untia Village, Makassar, South Sulawesi — Kampung Nelayan Untia and BSN Makassar — to design and build two new public hand-washing stations for the Indonesian village, provide hand soap and facemasks to all households, and supply new personal protective equipment and respirator masks to the local clinic, which is serving as a COVID-19 testing center.
The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), the charitable arm of The IAPMO Group, invites students and plumbing trades apprenticeship program participants to enter its 2020 Scholarship Essay Competition. This year’s topic is:
“With which like-minded organizations should IWSH partner and how would these specific partnerships advance and enhance the IWSH mission to deliver clean water and safe sanitation to those most in need?”
The 11th annual competition will award monetary scholarships to three students and/or trade apprentices with an interest in how the plumbing and mechanical industry can create and promote positive change both here and abroad.
“Though our world is expansive, these essays display over and over again how truly universal is the need for clean water and safe sanitation,” said IAPMO vice president and essay committee chairman David Gans. “When we think locally, in this regard we are indeed thinking globally as well. I look forward to reading this year’s entries.”
This topic chosen by the Sandra Imprescia Essay Scholarship Committee provides ample room for exploration and solution finding by competition participants. The competition is open to current high school seniors or anyone enrolled or accepted as a full-time (12 credit hours) student in an accredited technical school, community college, trade school, four-year accredited college or university, or an apprentice program.
Submitted essays must be the completely original work of the submitter, no fewer than 800 words and no more than 1,600 words. The essay entry deadline is April 30, 2020. IWSH’s board of trustees will select and announce the essay contest winners by Aug. 31. The author of the essay awarded first prize will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a one-year paid membership to IAPMO. The second-place winner will receive a $750 scholarship and the third-place winner will receive a $500 scholarship. All winning essays will be published in Official, IAPMO’s membership magazine, and on the IWSH website.
Individuals who meet the qualifications to submit an essay to the competition should include their name and their school’s or education/training organization’s name and other supporting information as noted at the IWSH website, https://www.iwsh.org/hidden/iwsh-essay-scholarship-contest/.
Essays must be submitted via email to essay@iwsh.org; via fax to (909) 472-4241; or USPS to:
International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation
Attn: Leticia Gallegos, Essay Contest
4755 E. Philadelphia St., Ontario, CA 91761
In light of the global COVID-19 coronavirus health crisis, IWSH Foundation announces the postponement of the upcoming Community Plumbing Challenge Indonesia Construction Week project.
Originally slated for May/June 2020, this event intended to assemble an international team of volunteer tradespeople to build a new public toilet and wash facility in Untia village, Makassar, South Sulawesi; realizing a design proposal that was developed and approved in successful collaboration with local residents during Design Week in November 2019.
The decision to postpone the upcoming Construction Week project is made with respect to current concerns around international travel, virus containment, and with the health and safety of all participating volunteers, host community members and local partners in mind.
IWSH will announce new arrangements for the Construction Week project in due course, in response to further developments impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The Local Project Challenge, a collaboration between academic and social organizations, has honored the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation’s upcoming Community Plumbing Challenge Indonesia program as a Merit Finalist at the U.N.-Habitat World Urban Forum 10 in Abu Dhabi.
The CPC was among the honorees in the Education category, announced Wednesday as part of the “Accelerating the SDGs through the Local Project Challenge” seminar.
The Local Project Challenge is a partnership between the Center for Sustainable Urban Development at The Earth Institute, Columbia University and the Faculty of Architecture, Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, and builds on the Global Studio and People Building Better Cities programs.
“It was a very strong project in a strong field of projects,” said Dr. Anna Rubbo, director of the Local Project Challenge. “It was incredibly clearly presented, it was very clear in the way in which the goals and the achievements were outlined, and I think it was really just a compelling project the way you handle it, the sort of issues that you address and the extraordinary contribution that you make to solving difficult issues.”
An international panel of judges from the fields of education, urban planning and architecture reviewed the nearly 50 nominees for Merit Finalist and Honors Awards. Community Plumbing Challenge (Untia Village, Indonesia) was one of three projects recognized with Merit Awards in the Education Category, alongside Participatory Design and Planning in Tubicanga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and Zero Waste – Total Wealth (Delhi, India). The Education Category Honor Award was presented to Design Curricula for a Resilient 21st Century (Dublin, Ireland).
LIGHT: Leadership for Social Empowerment, a project by the International Islamic University Malaysia, won the prestigious People’s Choice Award.
The Local Project Challenge feature page for the CPC is available HERE.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Local Project Challenge website, https://localprojectchallenge.org, in November 2019 at the Urban Thinkers Campus, Columbia University. Its purpose is to demonstrate how various Sustainable Development Goals and targets have been considered and/or implemented across a range of contemporary initiatives spanning civil society, professional, and education projects. A total of 110 projects, submitted from 39 countries, have been included.
“I encourage you to share this important gallery with colleagues, fellow students, friends and family. I encourage everyone to ask how the SDGs can be incorporated in our daily lives. Their widespread adoption will help realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and create a more equal and livable future. To all who have taken this first step by submitting their projects to create this extraordinary resource, my warmest congratulations,” said Ban Ki-moon.
The CPC’s feature page is available at https://localprojectchallenge.org/community-plumbing-project/.
The next installment of the CPC Indonesia program, featured by the Local Project Challenge, is scheduled to take place in May 2020 and will assemble an international team of skilled, volunteer tradespeople to build a new public facility for Untia village (Makassar, Sulawesi) featuring new toilets, a handwashing area, water supply system, and wastewater system.
A range of Local Project Challenge Awards will be announced at the U.N. World Urban Forum 10 in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Feb. 12, as part of the “Accelerating the SDGs through the Local Project Challenge” seminar. To view all of the projects and cast a vote for the People’s Choice Award, visit https://localprojectchallenge.org/vote. Voting closes at 8 a.m. EST/5 a.m. PST Tuesday, Feb. 11.
From Dec. 3-7, a team of skilled volunteers, local contractors and community leaders joined forces in this remote reservation location to install new water supply and septic systems at the Arizona warehouse, the temporary home of the Naatsis'áán (Navajo Mountain) Chapter office, while the main Chapter House undergoes major renovation. The building will become the new Navajo Mountain post office once the chapter staff returns to its headquarters in early 2020.
“It has been an incredible week; a lot of work, a lot of prep, a lot of ups and downs, but in the end, we have done as we said we would and delivered a new plumbing system that is going to serve the Navajo Mountain Chapter for years to come,” said Randy Lorge, IAPMO Education and Training Director and one of the IWSH team members responsible for this latest Navajo Mountain project. “It might not look like much, but now that they have this new restroom facility in place, the chapter will be able to move forward with their expansion.”
“IWSH and DigDeep working together is a great accomplishment for the next step for the Navajo Mountain Chapter as they continue servicing the community from the renovated, temporary building,” said Shanna Yazzie, Navajo Mountain Project Manager for DigDeep. “Communication, teamwork and having local skilled contractors was vital to the success of this latest project.”
“This week we've been working at the Arizona warehouse, where Navajo Mountain Chapter are going to be moving into,” added Donovan Smallcanyon, a water-solar technician with DigDeep. “This project has helped bring clean, running water to this remote location. It's very fulfilling.”
“We've faced challenges this week with snow, plus how far removed we are from anything like nearby suppliers or hardware stores,” said Smallcanyon, himself a resident of the Navajo Mountain area. “But it's really great to work with these organizations, and support what they want to do to help out the Navajo people.”
Special thanks are extended to Ferguson, the largest U.S. distributor of plumbing supplies, PVF, waterworks and fire and fabrication products, which contributed supplies for this initiative as part of its ongoing partnership with IWSH and DigDeep.
Companies or organizations who wish to get involved with the CPC Navajo Nation program, or any other future editions of the international CPC program, are encouraged to get in touch via info@iwsh.org. One-time, tax deductible donations to support these efforts may also be made via www.iwsh.org/donate.
IWSH Team Returns to Navajo Mountain
for Renovation Project
Representatives of the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) have returned to the Navajo Nation this week to support the installation of new toilet and washroom facilities for the Naatsis'áán (Navajo Mountain) Chapter House. This key administrative hub for the Naatsis'áán community is being relocated, while the existing Chapter House — the base for the most recent IWSH Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) project, in Piute Mesa, Arizona, in June — undergoes major renovation.
“This week, the team is installing a cistern system and a septic system at the Arizona warehouse office building, which we will be using for our temporary chapter office building,” said Lorena Atene, Community Services Coordinator at Naatsis'áán Chapter. “The new office is very important, to help us continue providing services for families in the local community.”
“Through our Chapter House, we provide services for bathroom additions, minor renovations, roof replacements, and we process paperwork to do with power line extensions and house wiring projects for families that are being hooked up to power lines,” Atene continued. “So from the new site we are going to be able to continue this remote office work and important communications with Window Rock offices plus all the other entities we work with, to make things happen for our community.”
The team assembled for the project this week includes two IWSH representatives — Jed Scheuermann and Randy Lorge — plus volunteers from the Naatsis'áán Chapter and DigDeep, hosts of the Navajo Water Project and IWSH’s ongoing CPC collaboration in the Navajo Nation. Also joining the crew are four volunteers from UA Local Union 412 (Albuquerque, New Mexico): two apprentices, Sasha Sun and Aaron Heitman, Business Agent Adam Valdez and Business Manager Courtenay Eichhorst.
“We have been given another opportunity to help the Navajo Nation, so we thought it would be a great chance to bring some new people out here — as well as some older, familiar faces — and do some good for our community,” said Eichhorst, the recent recipient of the inaugural IWSH Award in recognition of his dedicated support toward the development of the first U.S. CPC program.
“We've brought a young female apprentice — Sasha Sun — and this is her second time out here. And we've brought another apprentice — Aaron Heitman — who has never done this before! This is the first time he has been out here, and he is super excited to help; he was one of the first to volunteer. He has never been in Arizona! So this was the perfect opportunity to come out and help us; as well as providing these folks with their new, temporary Chapter House, we have the opportunity to teach some of our apprentices what it is like to do more residential-style plumbing out here on the reservation, rather than the industrial-style plumbing in the middle of town that we normally do.
“At UA Local 412, one of the biggest things we are focus on is community involvement,” Eichhorst continued. “In every meeting, and in everything we do, we encourage participation and we encourage community involvement. This IWSH collaboration is probably the best project we are involved with. Like many other organizations across the country, we support the ‘Heat's On’ program, and many other events with our city, state, and surrounding counties. But our IWSH partnership has a special place in our hearts, because we know how much good these projects do.
Like many other organizations across the country, we support the ‘Heat's On’ program, and many other events with our city, state, and surrounding counties. But our IWSH partnership has a special place in our hearts, because we know how much good these projects do.”
During a busy first day onsite, the team started installation of drain, waste and venting systems as well as the layout of water distribution piping. Preparation work was completed for the septic system, and tunneling through the footing of the building for the building sewer to the septic tank was also finished. Excavation was also completed for installation of a water cistern.
The project concludes Friday, and updates from the work site will be shared on IWSH Foundation social media channels throughout the week.
The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation’s (IWSH) Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) program has completed its latest installment, a Design Week project in the coastal village of Kampung Nelayan Untia.
An intensive four-day assignment concluded Thursday with a presentation to Untia community authorities and local residents. All Design Team members were involved, and they presented a proposal for a new public facility for Untia village that features new toilets, a new handwashing area, a new water supply system, and a new wastewater system.
Badan Standardisasi Nasional (BSN), the Indonesian standardization body, and IWSH will take the proposals, which were met with support by the local village leaders, to relevant government departments for final approval. It is anticipated this will set off a process toward an ambitious construction project around May 2020, after the passing of the annual wet season in the region. Dates and schedule for the proposed construction project next year will be announced as necessary approvals are confirmed.
“I am thankful that this program has run so well this week, and up to the final design presentation. Hopefully it can be implemented well too, in the next year,” said Taufiq Hidayat, Head of Technical Services for BSN, in Makassar. “To the IWSH team: Thank you so much for organizing so well and thank you for inviting the field experts to complete this Design Week. We, from BSN, are committed to facilitating the needs for this CPC in the next year like collaborating with the local government to support this program.”
“This activity is really positive since it focuses on social aspects such as sanitation, hygiene, and health, which are in accordance with standards,” added Putri Irvanna, Technical Services Officer at BSN Makassar. “I think the presentation is good since the team has given clear explanation to local people, and educated on how to use and maintain the proposed facilities.”
Companies or organizations who wish to get involved with the new CPC Indonesia program, or any other future editions of the international CPC program, are encouraged to get in touch via info@iwsh.org. One-time, tax deductible donations to support these efforts may also be made via www.iwsh.org/donate.
A key objective of the Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) program is the development of sustainable collaborations that change attitudes, raise awareness, and deliver real health benefits related to improved water, sanitation and hygiene conditions for communities in need. The newest installment of the CPC Indonesia program has reinforced these aims with a series of community consultations and meetings over the first three days of its latest Design Week — discussing implications for the new public toilet and wash facility being proposed with village leaders and local residents alike.
“Firstly, I think that this project is really helpful for local people here. In reality, if this project is implemented, it will help the family who has more members to use the toilet provided since they only have one toilet in their house,” said Andi Patiroi, Untia Village Head (Lurah Untia). “I also believe that this project is highly contributive for the tourism here. It can attract more people by the facilities provided.
“The response of local people here is really positive and good,” Patiroi continued. “It is because they have been expecting and waiting for the project like this. We have been helped previously but it did not really work because we ran out of water, so we ignore to maintain the toilet. But we are really glad that this project comes to us. After this project is implemented, we are committed to maintaining it by coordinating with all elements in this place like local people, village head, and other parties. It will be our pride.”
During this intensive assignment in Untia village, Design Team members have been encouraged to connect with local residents at every possible opportunity. On day three, the group visited local elementary school SDN Inpres Lae-Lae 2, where they presented a range of games and activities promoting handwashing and personal hygiene among the children. Additional outreach like this is vital in building greater understanding and rapport with local families, which in turn enhances design and construction considerations around the new toilet and wash facility being delivered.
“In my perspective, and local people’s perspective, we feel so happy and glad to see this CPC project,” said Dinasuddin Buwai, an Untia resident and coordinator with the community empowerment body Ketua LPM Untia. “We give our warm welcome and we are ready to fulfill the needs for the sake of this effort. Hopefully this project can be implemented well, and it can function and benefit for local people here.”
The latest CPC Indonesia Design Week has also gained from the diverse group of skilled volunteers who have volunteered to support this effort. Tan Wee Teck, Managing Director of Conint Builders and Engineers, Singapore, and President of the Singapore Plumbing Society, is an example of the senior and experienced professional expertise that has become increasingly involved in the CPC program in recent years.
“I was curious to join a Community Plumbing Challenge project, and have now realized there is a bigger purpose behind this activity,” Tan said. “This is a learning journey for all. The organizers deliberately choose a longer path — a design and community consultation process that educates and enriches the lives of everyone involved in the team. To witness these educational motives firsthand is heartwarming.”
Companies or organizations who wish to get involved with the new CPC Indonesia program, or any other future editions of the international CPC program, are encouraged to get in touch via info@iwsh.org. One-time, tax deductible donations to support these efforts may also be made via www.iwsh.org/donate.
Makassar, South Sulawesi (Nov. 19, 2019)— The Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) Indonesia Design Week continued today, with the Design Team back at the team base at the Dalton Hotel, where it reviewed the various design aspects for the new public toilet and wash facility in Untia village, particularly issues around water supply and wastewater management.
“We have now pulled together a lot of background information, so the team know what they need to start from. Designing a system, from the water source right through to the waste: water in, water out,” said Dave Donald, Program Director for Healthabitat, a long-standing IWSH Foundation collaborating partner leading the design process in Untia this week. “If you want the toilet to work, it’s about the whole continuum. So we have been reinforcing that message for the Design Team: it’s not only about the toilet facility in the middle. Get the overall system right, and the facility has a better chance of being there in 10-15 years’ time, still doing its job.”
The Design Team will return to Untia Village on Wednesday, to discuss its initial design concepts with community leaders and other local partners.
“Today, we looked at different considerations for things like water storage and septic tank requirements,” said Fareenha Khan, a Master of Architecture student at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, who is originally from Pakistan. “We are trying to consider all scenarios to make sure future maintenance of the new toilets will be up to the mark. The whole point of today was to list everything and pinpoint the remaining issues. Tomorrow we will go back to talk to the community again and share our initial design ideas.”
The Design Team also received an overview of Indonesian plumbing standards and World Health Organization guidelines around water and sanitation.
“I am happy for this experience, and happy to meet and interact with others from around the world. I have gotten knowledge about plumbing that I would not get in school,” added Muhammad Rezky Fahlevi, a second-year student of chemical industry at SMK-SMTI Makassar (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan, Sekolah Menengah Teknologi Industri — the industrial technology vocational high school of Makassar).
Companies or organizations wishing to get involved with the new CPC Indonesia program, or any other future editions of the international CPC program, are encouraged to get in touch via info@iwsh.org. One-time, tax deductible donations to support these efforts may also be made via www.iwsh.org/donate.
Washington, D.C. (Nov. 19, 2019) — Today Ferguson joined the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), governments, and NGOs in declaring a bold vision on World Toilet Day: Every person, no matter where they live in the in the United States, should have access to safe sanitation. This commitment is to help the 1.4 million Americans who lack access to safe, reliable sanitation and the hope, dignity and health that it brings.
Ferguson, the largest U.S. distributor of plumbing supplies, PVF, waterworks and fire and fabrication products, announced an additional $25,000 to IWSH for its efforts in the United States, which include two Community Plumbing Challenge projects within the Navajo Nation in the southwestern United States, a plumbing training program at the Navajo Technical University, and the construction of restroom facilities in a Navajo community center next month. Ferguson contributed supplies for these initiatives as well. The Navajo Nation, where approximately 40% of the population does not have access to water and sanitation, is an area particularly hit by this crisis.
“Ferguson has long understood that we cannot take water for granted,” said Denise Vaughn, the company’s Vice President of Communications and Sustainability. “We have worked with our contractors and offered the best product to deliver quality water. However, now is the time to do more. Ferguson is committed to ensuring every American has access to the basic human right of clean water and proper sanitation through our partnerships with IWSH and DigDeep. Access to safe, reliable water and sanitation does more for a community than just provide good health — it brings hope and dignity.”
Celebrated Nov. 19 every year, World Toilet Day’s goal is to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which promises sanitation for all by 2030.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 4.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed sanitation, 673 million still practice open defecation and 3 billion lack basic handwashing facilities. This lack of access to safe sanitation is blamed for an estimated 432,000 diarrheal deaths every year.
The problem is widespread in the United States as well, where more than 2 million people lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, according to a new report, produced by DigDeep and the US Water Alliance with advisory assistance from the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), titled “Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States: A National Action Plan.” An estimated 1.4 million Americans do not have access to indoor plumbing (hot and cold running water, a sink, a shower/bath or a flush toilet).
“A million-plus Americans lack access to basic toilets or plumbing in their homes,” said Dain Hansen, IAPMO Senior Vice President of Government Relations and IWSH Managing Director. “It is heart-wrenching to see the children, veterans and the elderly who do not benefit from the safety and dignity that sanitation in our homes provides — something so many of us take for granted. Today, IWSH and IAPMO are pleased to take a stand with Ferguson in bringing hope to disadvantaged families across the United States by installing toilets and basic plumbing in their homes.”
IWSH is the charitable arm of IAPMO, a nearly 100-year-old trade association in the plumbing industry. Visit www.iwsh.org for more information about IWSH and its projects worldwide.
The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation’s (IWSH) Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) program launched its latest edition today with the start of Design Week in the coastal village of Kampung Nelayan Untia.
The new program is presented in collaboration with Badan Standardisasi Nasional (BSN), the Indonesian standardization body, and PT. IAPMO Group Indonesia. It will focus on the design and construction of a new public toilet and handwashing facility.
The international Design Team was welcomed to Untia Village in a community ceremony this morning by Ms. Suhaimi A. Kasman, the BSN’s Head of Division for Co-operation, and the Untia Village Head, Mr. Andi Patiroi.
“Participants in this Design Week are from all over Indonesia, and countries such as U.S., Singapore, Australia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Canada, and Ireland,” Kasman said. “Welcome to Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi special to Untia village. I hope you are happy to stay here.
“As the implementation of MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] between BSN and IAPMO, we are collaborating with IWSH to develop a new public toilet facility in Untia. This activity is very useful, and this is the second activity carried out in Indonesia. The first one was held in Cikarang, Bekasi [2017–18].
“The purpose of this project — besides fulfilling the lives of people in Untia village — are that the toilet facility will be built to meet the technical specifications in accordance with healthy and hygienic toilet standards as SNI 8153:2015 about the plumbing system. This standard organizes the specification of plumbing materials, planning, design, installation, additional and maintenance of the plumbing system.
“As the representative of BSN we would like to thank you for the support of all parties, and hopefully this activity can continue on other occasions and in other areas,” Kasman concluded.
Companies or organizations who wish to get involved with the new CPC Indonesia program, or any other future editions of the international CPC program, are encouraged to get in touch via info@iwsh.org. One-time, tax deductible donations to support these efforts may also be made via www.iwsh.org/donate.
The CPC Indonesia Design Week is scheduled to conclude Thursday.
A new report, produced by DigDeep and the US Water Alliance with advisory assistance from IAPMO, titled “Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States: A National Action Plan,” reveals that more than 2 million Americans today live with no running water, indoor plumbing or sanitation service, and recommends a series of remedies.
On the Navajo Nation in the Southwest, families drive for hours to haul barrels of water to meet their basic needs. In West Virginia, they drink from polluted streams. In Alabama, parents warn their children not to play outside because their yards are flooded with sewage. Families living in Texas border towns worry because there is no running water to fight fires.
“Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States” is the most comprehensive national study on the more than 2 million Americans who lack access to water service. The report fills an important knowledge gap: there is no one entity — whether a federal agency or research institution — that collects comprehensive data on the scope of the United States water access problem."
“This report shows us all that lack access to water and sanitation is not simply an issue faced is lesser-developed countries — it is happening in our backyard,” said George McGraw, DigDeep CEO. “With IAPMO’s work for nearly a century in water and sanitation safety, their involvement in this report was important — not only now, but also moving forward in helping address the issues outlined in the study.”
The report’s authors, with researchers from Michigan State University, examine six areas where the water access gap is particularly acute: the Central Valley of California, border colonias in Texas, rural counties in Mississippi and Alabama, rural West Virginia, the “four corners” area in the Southwest, and Puerto Rico. Researchers spoke to families living without water and captured their stories of poor health and economic hardship. The authors also spoke to local community leaders working to solve the water crisis by distributing water, building community-centered water projects where no infrastructure exists, and advocating for policy change to bring more reliable services to rural and unincorporated communities. Despite these community efforts, data suggests that some communities may be backsliding; six states and Puerto Rico saw recent increases in their populations without water access.
“DigDeep and the US Water Alliance have done an incredible job in undertaking the daunting task, and worked tirelessly, to highlight the tragic circumstances faced by communities across America,” said Dave Viola, IAPMO’s Chief Operating Officer and member of the National Advisory Council for the report.
The report makes several recommendations to help close the water gap in the United States. Recommendations include re-introducing Census questions about whether homes have working taps and toilets, as well as changes to how the federal government funds and regulates water systems to support rural and unincorporated areas. There are also several recommendations for the philanthropic and global WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) sectors to drive community empowerment, deploy innovative technologies, and apply successful WASH models from abroad here in the United States. Read the full report here.
“It has been an honor to be part of such a comprehensive and impactful report,” said Dain Hansen, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, IAPMO, and member of the National Advisory Council for the report. “IAPMO’s long-standing mission is to protect the public health and safety, and we stand committed to working within our industry in helping to address the water and sanitation access issues throughout the United States.”
ABOUT THE US WATER ALLIANCE
The US Water Alliance advances policies and programs to secure a sustainable water future for all. Established in 2008, the Alliance is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that educates the nation on the true value of water, accelerates the adoption of one water policies and programs, and celebrates innovation in water management. The Alliance brings together diverse interests to identify and advance common-ground, achievable solutions to our nation's most pressing water challenges. Our membership includes water providers, public officials, business leaders, environmental organizations, community leaders, policy organizations, and more.
ABOUT DIGDEEP
DigDeep is a human rights nonprofit working to ensure that every American has access to clean, running water. Since its founding in 2012, DigDeep has brought water and sanitation systems to thousands of individuals across the states. DigDeep is the winner of the 2018 US Water Prize for its Navajo Water Project, which has brought water to hundreds (and counting) of indigenous families across New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.
Media Contacts:
For press interviews with Radhika Fox (US Water Alliance), contact Abigail Gardner: agardner@uswateralliance.org
For press interviews with George McGraw (DigDeep), contact Caroline Goggin: caroline@upcausepr.com
The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) unveiled plans for the next phase of the Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) Indonesia program during a presentation at the inaugural Indonesia Sustainable Construction and Plumbing Conference (ISCOP). ISCOP was co-located with Konstruksi Indonesia and Indonesia Infrastructure Week at Jakarta International Expo, which took place Nov. 6-8.
The new CPC Indonesia program will be presented in collaboration with Badan Standardisasi Nasional (BSN), the Indonesian standardization body, and PT. IAPMO Group Indonesia. It will be hosted in the coastal village of Kampung Nelayan Untia, on the outskirts of Makassar, South Sulawesi. The project’s initial focus will be the design and construction of a new public toilet and handwashing facility, intended to support ongoing efforts to drive further tourism to the village alongside improving local sanitary conditions for residents and the surrounding community.
“After the success of the pilot CPC Indonesia projects, hosted in Cicau Village, West Java, through 2017-18, we are excited to support and enable the growth, and development, of this program — particularly by working together and more closely with BSN, to do so,” said Shirley Dewi, Senior Vice President of PT. IAPMO Group Indonesia and an organizer of the ISCOP event. “We are so pleased the new CPC program has been showcased and received so positively at ISCOP this week, because the whole purpose of this conference has been to bring together professionals from the Indonesian construction and plumbing industries to network and share ideas on how to improve Indonesia’s development. The CPC is a platform that our industry can really get behind, as it opens so many doors for improved technical education and training, awareness around sustainable building codes and standards, and encourages greater behavioral change around public health issues linked to water, sanitation and hygiene.”
The new CPC Indonesia program commences with a Design Week project in Untia village, which will run from Nov 18-21. Over four days, a skilled international volunteer team comprising plumbers, architects and engineers will collaborate with local community host partners to develop a design and work plan for the new public toilet and handwashing facility, which will then be built to these specifications via a larger Construction Week project in May 2020.
“Design Week is going to bring together local residents, authorities, students and teachers, and combine them with skilled international volunteers from specialist technical backgrounds,” added IWSH International Program Director Seán Kearney. “The team will combine experience and expertise from eight countries — Indonesia, Australia, India, Ireland, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, and the USA. So we are all set for a busy and productive week, which will kick off the next phase of the CPC Indonesia program and will move our collaborations and partnerships here to the next level.”
Inaugural IWSH Awards Presented to
Two Exceptional Supporters
Reno, Nev. (Sept. 23, 2019) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) today honored two of its most exceptional and valued supporters with a special IWSH Award at IAPMO’s 90th annual Education and Business Conference and 2019 ASSE International Annual Meeting.
Courtenay Eichhorst, Business Manager at UA Local Union No. 412 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was recognized for his dedicated support toward the development of the first U.S. Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) program, a collaboration with the DigDeep Navajo Water Project at various sites across the Navajo Nation, since October 2018. Eichhorst has organized and facilitated the participation of more than 10 volunteers from UA Local 412 in the Navajo program so far, and is committed to continuing this partnership for future CPC projects.
“The whole IWSH program is phenomenal,” Eichhorst said. “When you’re out there helping these folks it’s helping your grandma. I mean, it’s helping your mom; it’s not a big deal. So thank you so much for all that you’ve done; I’m glad I was there to help.”
Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 400, a local union consisting of about 2,000 members serving 18 counties in Northeast Wisconsin, also received an IWSH Award. UA 400 has been a consistent CPC supporter and sponsor since the inception of the program in 2015 and has been represented in all international projects over the past five years, including events in India, South Africa, Indonesia, and the United States.
Accepting the award on behalf of UA 400, retiring Business Manager Jeff Knaus said: “Thank you everyone who volunteers your efforts throughout the world. I’m a huge proponent of this organization and what you’re trying to do to change lives, and that’s the way I promote it to our membership. We are all in on this. I didn’t win this; obviously it’s given to Local 400 and their membership for their support.”
Speaking after the two presentations, IWSH Chair Dan Daniels reiterated, “The IWSH Foundation would not be here, and could not continue to do the work it does, without the generous donations and contributions from our supporters across the international WASH sector. Today, we wanted to take a moment to highlight two exemplars, who we feel have gone above and beyond the call of duty in terms of helping IWSH progress toward our goals over the past 12 months. We are delighted to honor Mr. Courtenay Eichhorst – and all of the volunteers who have connected with our projects from UA Local 412, in Albuquerque – plus, Mr. Jeff Knaus, on behalf of UA Local 400, from Wisconsin; a partner organization that has stood proudly with us from the very beginning of this mission.”
“We wanted to take this opportunity to say a special thank-you to both representatives, while we are assembled here together with our friends and colleagues from the across IAPMO membership,” Daniels added. “We hope that by continuing to build and expand our relationships with all parties into the future, will continue to set benchmarks that can inspire other supporters and partners to join the IWSH cause. Finally, we intend to make presentation of these IWSH Awards an annual feature, that will recognize other exceptional individuals and organizations in the years ahead.”
Ontario, Calif. (Aug. 22, 2019) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation’s (IWSH) next Community Plumbing Challenge Indonesia project will begin in November in the village of Kampung Nelayan Untia, on the outskirts of the port city of Makassar, South Sulawesi. The project will be presented in collaboration with Badan Standardasi Indonesia, the national standardization agency of Indonesia.
The project will be launched during the Indonesia Sustainable Construction and Plumbing Summit (ISCOP), which will be held Nov. 6-8 in conjunction with Konstruksi Indonesia (http://www.constructionindonesia.com/) at Jakarta International Expo. Following the collaborative model of previous pilot CPC Indonesia projects, a Design Week will be hosted in Kampung Nelayan Untia during the week of Nov. 18. Subsequently, a Construction Week will be hosted in May 2020 (exact dates to be determined), after the passing of the annual wet season in the Sulawesi region.
The initiative will focus on construction of a new public toilet and hand-washing facility. Local authorities have been investing in the Untia village community — which is home to about 1,200 residents — by improving infrastructure and services in recent years, with particular focus on targeting tourism growth and better living conditions for residents through improved water supply and sanitation. The construction of this new public toilet and hand-washing facility is seen to be a key part of these ongoing efforts to improve public health and hygiene in the village, both for local families and for visitors.
The pilot CPC Indonesia project (CPC2017) was delivered across three separate projects between August 2017 and March 2018 and brought improved drinking water and sanitation facilities to a public elementary school in Cicau Village, Cikarang, Bekasi (West Java). The upgraded facilities were designed and built referencing the new Indonesian Plumbing Standard, SNI 8153:2015, while incorporating expertise from IWSH partner Healthabitat O/S that was gained from the Healthabitat Nepal Village Sanitation and School Toilet Construction program.
IWSH is actively recruiting volunteers, sponsors and partners for the upcoming CPC Indonesia project. Interested parties are encouraged to get in contact via info@iwsh.org. Official registration forms will be made available on the IWSH website in September; in the meantime, supporters are asked to stay tuned for further updates by signing up for the IWSH newsletter (http://bit.ly/iwsh-list) and by following IWSH on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
BSN Bikin Program Pendampingan Sanitasi
bagi Warga Kelurahan Untia
erkini.id, Makassar – Badan Standardisasi Nasional (BSN) dan PT IAPMO melakukan pendampingan program Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) International Water Sanitation Hygiene (IWSH) di Kelurahan Untia, Kecamatan Biringkanaya, Kota Makassar.
“Persiapan design week CPC pada bulan November 2019,” kata Taufiq Hidayat Kepala Kantor Layanan Teknis BSN Makassar, Kamis 29 Agustus 2019.
CPC bertujuan membangun fasilitas sanitasi bagi warga Kelurahan Untia, dengan dua titik pembangunan. Pembangunan di SDN Lae-Lae dan fasilitas umum kelurahan.
Kegiatan ini untuk mendukung standar sistem perpipaan atau plambing SNI 8153:2015. Sistem plambing pada pembangunan gedung.
Taufiq mengatakan, Kelurahan Untia terpilih dari 5 calon lokasi. Dikarenakan dari lokasi yang dekat dengan Kota Makassar. Namun kondisi daerahnya yang belum memenuhi syarat dalam sistem sanitasi yang hiegienis. Serta Untia merupakan daerah wisata yang ditetapkan oleh Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan melalui Dinas Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup.
Pembimbingan BSN dalam bentuk pembinaan dalam menerapkan sistem sanitasi yang hiegienis. Program CPC ini akan melibatkan PT. IAPMO yang berpusat di Amerika Serikat, IWSH, dan BSN.
BSN akan menggandeng pemerintah Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan melaui Dinas Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup dan Dinas Pekerjaan Umum serta dari Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum dan Perumahan Rakyat. BSN juga mengajukan program sinergi ke BUMN di Sulawesi Selatan yaitu PT. Semen Bosowa dan PT. Semen Tonasa.
Kegiatan pendampingan ini dihadiri Kepala Bagian Kerja Sama BSN Suhaimi A Kasman, Kepala Kantor Layanan Teknis BSN Makassar Taufiq Hidayat, dan perwakilan akademisi Dr. Fahrisal Husain.
Tim dari BSN disambut Lurah Untia dan Kepala SDN Lae-Lae. “Terima kasih atas pendampingan dan semoga kegiatan di bulan november berjalan sesuai rencana,” ungkap Lurah Untia, Pattiroy.
Program ini berlangsung dari tahum 2019-2020 dan terdiri dari beberapa tahap :
Tahap 1 : Kunjungan awal pada bulan maret 2019 (survei beberapa calon lokasi) terdapat 5 calon (Desa untia, SMA N 18 Makassar, PNUP, SMK N 2 barru dan SMK N 1 pare-pare) terpilih adalah Kelurahan Untia
tahap 2 : Kunjungan lokasi terpilih bulan juni 2019
tahap 3 : Design Week di November 2019
tahap 4 : Construction Week dan Inauguration pada maret 2020.
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.
Washington, D.C. (June 3, 2019) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation’s (IWSH) Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) began today in Navajo Mountain region on the Arizona-Utah border.
Presented in collaboration with the award-winning DigDeep Navajo Water Project, CPC Navajo Mountain brings together a unique team of volunteer tradespeople to deliver running water and safe wastewater disposal for family homes situated in the remote and isolated Piute Mesa area of Navajo Mountain.
“We will be working in homes over the next five days, putting in water systems and septic systems,” said Randy Lorge, IWSH organizing team member and newly appointed Director of Workforce Training and Development for The IAPMO Group. “We have crews coming in from various parts of the United States and overseas to assist. It is going to be an exciting week, and we are going to change some families’ lives for the better.
“The terrain out here, in the Piute Mesa area in the northeastern corner of Arizona, makes it so difficult for the community to get their water,” he added. “But we have surveyed the overall condition of the homes we will be working in, and now have a good grasp of what needs to be done so that we can get these folks what they need.”
The event is benefiting from the support of such prominent companies as Ferguson, Milwaukee Tool, WinSupply, LIXIL and Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC). Additionally, three 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 — sent members and/or made financial contributions.
Companies or organizations who wish to support the CPC Navajo Mountain project, or any other future editions of the international CPC program, are encouraged to get in touch via info@iwsh.org. One-time, tax-deductible donations to support these efforts can also be made via www.iwsh.org/donate.
CPC Navajo Mountain is scheduled to conclude Friday.
Washington, D.C. (May 29, 2019) — Next week, the latest installment of the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) program begins in the remote Navajo Mountain region of Piute Mesa on the Arizona-Utah border. The new project, the second to be presented in collaboration with the award-winning DigDeep Navajo Water Project, will run June 3-7.
The new CPC project represents one of the most ambitious yet, in terms of the geographic location and isolated situation of the host partners and recipient households involved. Navajo Mountain is the highest area of the Navajo Nation, more than 10,400 feet above sea level at its highest point. Due to their distance removed and difficulty to reach, the growing list of homes being surveyed by DigDeep across Piute Mesa is the last in line for promised water utility service connections and works that are commencing elsewhere in the more accessible and populated areas of Navajo Mountain chapter.
City of Santa Fe plumbing and mechanical inspector Ian Longacre, a member of UA Local 412 (New Mexico and El Paso, Texas) and the IAPMO board of directors, participated in October’s CPC and will return for CPC Navajo Mountain.
“As a returning team member joining this project, we will be embarking on one of our most exciting projects to date: volunteering to come and work in one of the most challenging regions we have been invited to, so far,” he said. “This project will be a tough but ultimately very rewarding experience for all who will be involved.”
Navajo Mountain Chapter President Hank Stevens said many people thought homes would never have running water on the reservation because of how remote and isolated it is, but such projects are showing that it is possible.
“These water systems are not just for us, but for the next generation,” he said. “Navajo Mountain may be remote, but we are not doing this on our own anymore. We are doing this with you.”
IWSH International Program Director Grant Stewart said October’s project in the Baca-Prewitt chapter near Thoreau, New Mexico, was a valuable opportunity to get new ideas from all participants and determine how they could be better organized and facilitated to support remote American households.
“Our aim, through this particular CPC program, is to continue bringing these improved methods forward with DigDeep: helping our host partners in these communities make continual gains toward better public health and hygiene, and keeping people from getting sick.”
Companies or organizations who wish to support the upcoming project, or any other future editions of the international CPC program, are encouraged to get in touch via info@iwsh.org.
Prominent Organizations Pledge
Support for CPC Navajo Mountain
Washington, D.C. (May 20, 2019) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) is pleased to announce that prominent companies Ferguson, Milwaukee Tool, WinSupply, LIXIL and Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) have pledged support, both financially and in products/materials, for the upcoming Community Plumbing Challenge, set for June 3-7 in the Navajo Mountain region on the Arizona-Utah border. Additionally, three 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 — are sending members and/or making financial contributions.
This latest edition of the CPC Navajo Nation program will bring together a unique team of volunteer tradespeople from all over the United States, delivering running water and safe wastewater disposal for a series of family homes situated in the remote and isolated Piute Mesa area of Navajo Mountain.
“For more than 140 years, American Standard protected the health of our nation by providing access to safe plumbing,” said Troy Benavidez, Vice President of Public Affairs for LIXIL Americas. “Now, as part of LIXIL, we are committed to bringing safe sanitation to communities around the world and in our own backyard. We are thrilled to partner with IWSH to help bring clean water and sanitation to families on the Navajo Nation and in other underserved communities — helping children and families lead lives that are healthier and safer.”
There’s still time to support and help improve access to safe water supply and sanitation by getting involved in CPC Navajo Mountain. Whether providing financial or in-kind support for the project site works themselves, individuals and organizations have the opportunity make a meaningful contribution that can help demonstrate the importance of plumbing and the WASH sector in protecting public health and safety. Sponsorship opportunities exist that will bring recognition for participating companies and organizations.
“Once again, this is an incredible endeavor the CPC has championed for the betterment of life for these families,” said Michael Kirby, Director of Mechanical Trades for Milwaukee Tool. “We are extremely happy and honored to provide support in association with the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation and the Community Plumbing Challenge, as well as the United Association, to bring water and sanitation to more homes this year.”
Bob Carpenter, LMP, Outreach & Education Manager, USA for RWC, said, “Reliance Worldwide Corporation is proud to provide the materials to the IWSH Foundation that will be used to provide safe drinking water to the people living in areas of the USA where they have previously not had access to it.”
Jeffrey P. Knaus, Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer for UA Local 400, said, “UA 400 Pipe Trades would like to thank the IWSH organization for its leadership in assisting the Navajo Nation in Arizona/Utah this year. We’re very proud to be assisting in your efforts. You truly are changing the lives of these residents.”
Ontario, Calif. (May 13, 2019) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation’s (IWSH) next Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) will take place in the Navajo Mountain region on the Arizona-Utah border June 3-7.
The new project, in collaboration with DigDeep, will bring together a unique team of volunteer tradespeople from all over the United States to deliver running water and safe wastewater disposal for a series of family homes situated in the remote and isolated Piute Mesa area of Navajo Mountain.
“Since our last Navajo Nation project — hosted in Baca-Prewitt, New Mexico, last October — DigDeep has raised enough money to bore a new well in Navajo Mountain, purchase a new water truck, establish a new water delivery service, and install an ongoing series of home water systems for households across the region,” IWSH Managing Director Dain Hansen said. “This upcoming CPC project will help launch DigDeep in providing these new services in Navajo Mountain, and further establish our relationship with the local community through the practical, hands-on support and expertise that our trades team volunteers will be providing.”
It is not too late to get involved. Water sector companies and organizations that would like to support this initiative or participate in the upcoming event are invited to get in contact at info@iwsh.org.
This CPC event will help further development of a new partnership between IAPMO and the Navajo Technical University (NTU). Shortly before October’s project, a memorandum of understanding was signed between both parties to offer community college-level plumbing courses. The new training courses, slated to commence at NTU in September 2019, will focus on teaching students to build and maintain plumbing and sanitation facilities on the reservation and provide opportunities toward eventually becoming a licensed plumber.
“Our partnership with NTU is another exciting development running parallel to this CPC,” Hansen added. “The project in June will provide us with a unique opportunity; firstly, for identifying on-site work opportunities for NTU students, and secondly, for the creation of teaching and training materials tailored to the community. We believe both aspects will go on to become integral parts of the future plumbing training courses being run here on the Navajo reservation — with our IWSH-DigDeep community plumbing partnership as the enabling platform. We are excited to continue exploring these possibilities together during the upcoming project in Navajo Mountain.”
Ontario, Calif. (March 4, 2019) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), a bridge for the international water, sanitation, and hygiene community with specific focus on the role of the plumbing industry in community collaborations and educational exchange, has announced the topic for its 2019 Scholarship Essay Competition:
“What can IWSH do to improve sanitation and provide clean water for those who lack access to a plumbing system?”
The competition, originally an IAPMO initiative and now entering its tenth year, will again award monetary scholarships to three students and/or trade apprentices with an interest in how the plumbing and mechanical industry can create and promote positive change both here and abroad.
“This year’s topic simply gets right to the heart of the IWSH mission,” said IWSH Chairman Dan Daniels. “Lack of adequate drinking water and effective sanitation continues to be the most pressing issues facing human beings across the planet, and our foundation is committed to exploring every available option to alleviate these concerns and assure good health for those most in need.”
This topic chosen by the IWSH board of trustees provides ample room for exploration and solution finding by competition participants. The competition is open to any student actively enrolled in a high school, community college, trade school, four-year accredited college or university or working in an apprentice program.
Submitted essays must be the completely original work of the submitter and a minimum of 1,000 words. The essay entry deadline is May 1, 2019, via email, fax or mail to IAPMO World Headquarters. The winning essay will be announced in September at the 2019 IAPMO Education and Business Conference in Reno, Nevada. The author of the essay awarded first prize will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a one-year paid membership to IAPMO. Second-place winner will receive a $750 scholarship and the third-place winner will receive a $500 scholarship. All winning essays will also be published in Official, IAPMO’s membership magazine, and on the IAPMO website.
Individuals who meet the qualifications to submit an essay to the competition should include your name and your school’s or education/training organization’s name. All essays should be sent to Ms. Gabriella Davis at IAPMO by email at essay@iwsh.org; by fax at (909) 472-4222; or by standard mail to her attention at IAPMO, 4755 E. Philadelphia St., Ontario, CA 91761.
Thoreau, N.M. (Oct. 22, 2018) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation’s 2018 Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) began today in Thoreau, New Mexico. The CPC’s focus is the Navajo Water Project, an initiative of the nonprofit organization DigDeep that was among the 2018 recipients of the U.S. Water Prize. The initiative’s goal is to help ensure that every American has clean, running water forever. The CPC, which runs through Friday, is hosted by the St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School in Thoreau, a small town in Northwestern New Mexico.
The Navajo Nation CPC assembles a multi-disciplined team of skilled tradespeople to execute plumbing and construction projects that will improve living conditions in approximately 10 households nominated by U.S.-based nonprofit organization DigDeep. Inside homes, a range of bathroom and kitchen renovations will be carried out, including the installation of new basins, taps, toilets, water tanks, water pumps, and hot- and cold-water pipework. These renovations and repairs are required in order for these homes to be connected to water supply systems. Meanwhile, efforts outdoors will address the installation of, and connection to, new wastewater systems.
After the morning’s welcome ceremony, participants in the exclusive Ambassador Program took part in the “Water and Sanitation Crisis in America Roundtable: Government & Industry Working Together for Solutions” at the Thoreau Chapter House. In addition to focusing on issues concerning tribal lands, the roundtable looked at issues facing the more than 1.6 million people across the U.S. without access to clean water and safe sanitation.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-Santa Fe, and U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-Albuquerque, attended the welcome ceremony and roundtable. Also in attendance were officials from LIXIL, Reliance Worldwide, Milwaukee, GE Appliances, Winsupply of Albuquerque, Indian Health Services, Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, DigDeep, the Mechanical Contractors Association of New Mexico, as well as Tom Bigley, director of plumbing services for the United Association, and representatives from numerous plumbing local unions.
Heinrich said the geography of the Navajo Nation is so challenging that multiple things must be done at the same time to be able to create the basic infrastructure in places like Thoreau. The federal Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will result in hundreds of miles of new supply line, but remote areas such as Thoreau may remain out of reach for the time being.
“That still doesn’t connect people in these really remote areas,” he said. “You have to have multiple different approaches, and having skilled labor come and make sometimes really basic fixes that make things work in somebody’s own home? That’s just invaluable, absolutely invaluable, and so I think we need to learn how to walk and chew gum at the same time, really build on these partnerships, look at how we do the same sort of approach for electrification in many of these remote locations, and all work together as a team.”
Work on the projects is scheduled to be completed by Friday. A 90-minute community forum and presentation will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Baca-Prewitt Chapter House. The farewell ceremony is set for 6 p.m. Friday at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico. To learn more about the event, visit the project website at www.commplumbing.org or email info@iwsh.org. Visit www.iwsh.org.
Washington, D.C. (Oct. 8, 2018) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation’s latest International Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) program is only two weeks away, but there is still time to support and help improve access to safer water supply and sanitation for families and communities across the Navajo Nation.
Whether by participating in the upcoming event via the newly incorporated Ambassador Program or providing financial or in-kind support for the project site works themselves, individuals and organizations have the opportunity make a meaningful contribution that can help demonstrate the importance of plumbing and the WASH sector in protecting public health and safety. The Ambassador Program gives individuals and organizations an opportunity to have their voices heard in the effort to solve America’s water and sanitation crisis, while sponsorship opportunities exist that will bring recognition for participating companies and organizations.
The Navajo Nation CPC, set for Oct. 22-26 in Northwestern New Mexico, assembles a multi-disciplined team of skilled tradespeople to execute plumbing and construction projects that will improve living conditions in approximately 10 households nominated by U.S.-based nonprofit organization DigDeep. Inside homes, a range of bathroom and kitchen renovations will be carried out, including the installation of new basins, taps, toilets, water tanks, water pumps, and hot- and cold-water pipework. These renovations and repairs are required in order for these homes to be connected to water supply systems. Meanwhile, efforts outdoors will address the installation of, and connection to, new wastewater systems.
The project has already garnered support, both financially and in products/materials, from such prominent companies as LIXIL and G.E. Appliances, and organizations including the Piping Industry Progress & Education Trust Fund (P.I.P.E.), World Plumbing Council, Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC), American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), Plumbing Contractors of America/Mechanical Contractors Association of America (PCA/MCAA), Thrivent Financial, numerous International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) chapters, and several individuals. Additionally, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the United States, Canada (UA), as well as six local chapters throughout the United States, have made financial donations and are sponsoring the involvement of a number of their skilled members.
“Without strong sponsors and supporters, these kinds of initiatives are not possible,” said IWSH Managing Director Dain Hansen. “However, we aren’t just looking for financial and in-kind sponsors. We rely heavily on the involvement and industry knowledge of people across the trades to make every project we do better than the last, and sustainable moving forward.”
IWSH is actively recruiting team members, sponsors, and partners for the Navajo Nation CPC. To be a sponsor, please direct your web browser to https://commplumbing.org/sponsor/. To participate in the Navajo Nation CPC, go to https://commplumbing.org/contact/. For more information about the event, visit the project website at www.commplumbing.org or email info@iwsh.org.
Washington, D.C. (Sept. 24, 2018) — The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States, Canada (UA), as well as six local chapters throughout the United States, have made generous financial contributions to the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation’s 2018 International Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) in Northwestern New Mexico from Oct. 22-26.
The UA represents an estimated 340,000 plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, service technicians and welders in local unions across North America.
The Navajo Nation CPC assembles a multi-disciplined team of skilled tradespeople to execute plumbing and construction projects that will improve living conditions in approximately 10 households nominated by U.S.-based nonprofit organization DigDeep. Inside homes, a range of bathroom and kitchen renovations will be carried out, including the installation of new basins, taps, toilets, water tanks, water pumps, and hot- and cold-water pipework. These renovations and repairs are required in order for these homes to be connected to water supply systems. Meanwhile, efforts outdoors will address the installation of, and connection to, new wastewater systems.
In addition to the national organization, donations were received from Plumbers Local Union No. 798 (Tulsa, Oklahoma); Plumbers Local Union No. 12 (Dorchester, Massachusetts); Plumbers Local Union No. 68 (Houston); Plumbers Local Union No. 78 (Los Angeles); Plumbers Local Union No. 412 (New Mexico and El Paso, Texas); and Plumbers Local Union No. 400 (Kaukauna, Wisconsin). In addition to their financial donations, Local 412 and Local 400 are also sponsoring the involvement of a number of their skilled members — providing expertise to the upcoming project from licensed plumbers, plus trainers and apprentices.
Thomas Bigley, Director of Plumbing Services for the UA, said this year’s project — which is being held in the United States for the first time — provides a special opportunity for some members.
“We have a lot of members who are Native American, so they absolutely wanted to participate and help out,” he said.
Bigley said that rather than coming from a national call to contribute from the UA, the donations resulted primarily from word of mouth.
“The money that’s donated is from the members’ paychecks,” Bigley said. “Not only does it make them feel good, but everyone agrees it’s the right thing to do to help our brothers and sisters in need.”
The project is also garnering support, both financially and in products/materials, from other parts of the industry, including: LIXIL, the manufacturer of such brands as American Standard and GROHE, G.E. Appliances and the Piping Industry Progress & Education Trust Fund (P.I.P.E.).
“We are sincerely grateful to harness such goodwill and generosity from across the plumbing industry and broader WASH sector; particularly as the end result will be to help improve access to safer water supply and sanitation for families in the Navajo community,” added Dain Hansen, IWSH Managing Director. “With our first-ever U.S. project less than one month away, we encourage all interested parties to get in contact and let us know how they might like to get involved and help us create a long-term and truly sustainable public health impact in this region.”
IWSH is actively recruiting team members, sponsors, and partners for October’s Navajo Nation CPC. If you wish to be a sponsor, please direct your web browser to https://commplumbing.org/sponsor/.
If you would like to participate in the Navajo Nation CPC, go to https://commplumbing.org/contact/.
For more information about the event, visit the project website at www.commplumbing.org or email info@iwsh.org.
The Navajo Water Project, an initiative of the nonprofit organization DigDeep that was among the 2018 recipients of the U.S. Water Prize, will be the focus of IWSH’s 2018 international Community Plumbing Challenge from Oct. 22 to 26. The initiative’s goal is to help ensure that every American has clean, running water forever. The Navajo Water Project is hosted by the St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School in Thoreau, a small town in Northwestern New Mexico.
This Navajo Nation CPC will provide households in the Baca-Prewitt area of the reservation with access to water and improved sanitation. A multi-disciplined team of skilled tradespeople will execute plumbing and construction projects to improve living conditions in approximately 10 households nominated by DigDeep.
Inside homes, a range of bathroom and kitchen renovations will be carried out, including the installation of new basins, taps, toilets, water tanks, water pumps, and hot- and cold-water pipework. Meanwhile, efforts outdoors will address the installation of, and connection to, new wastewater systems.
“While we invest millions in water projects abroad, most Americans don't know that millions of people right here in the United States still don't have clean, running water,” said George McGraw, founder and executive director of DigDeep. “In 2016, I was invited to give a keynote presentation at IAPMO’s annual Education and Business Conference, hosted that year in Albuquerque, during which I explained DigDeep’s position as the only global water organization working here in the United States. So now, less than two years later, we are very excited to host this latest edition of the international Community Plumbing Challenge to further impact the ongoing Navajo Water Project.”
Residents and vocational students will also be involved in the upcoming program, and the project will showcase how plumbing practices, products, specialized tools and expertise can be applied to positively impact public health in their community.
“As demonstrated in previous international editions, the CPC creates a unique opportunity for plumbing professionals to gain experience and to learn new skills by working directly with talented tradespeople and industry experts,” said Dan Daniels, Chair of the IWSH board of trustees. “We encourage our industry partners and stakeholders across the water, sanitation and hygiene sector to consider nominating their best and brightest talents to join this upcoming project, which has all the ingredients to be an experience of a lifetime for personal and professional development.”
IWSH is actively recruiting team members, sponsors, and partners for October’s Navajo Nation CPC. If you wish to be a sponsor, please click here. If you would like to participate in the Navajo Nation CPC, please click here. For more information about the event, visit the project website at www.commplumbing.org
Ontario, Calif. (March 12, 2018) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), a bridge for the international water, sanitation, and hygiene community with specific focus on the role of the plumbing industry in community collaborations and educational exchange, will again administer an essay competition awarding scholarships to three young people with an interest in how the plumbing and mechanical industry can create and promote positive change across the globe.
Participants in this year’s contest will submit essays expressing their thoughts on “In November 2017, IWSH completed the Community Plumbing Challenge 2017 in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia. If you had to choose one location within the United States to conduct the next Community Plumbing Challenge (providing safe access to clean water and proper sanitation), which location would you choose and why?”
“Though technologically advanced, the United States is not completely free of many of the same issues that plague residents of developing nations where it concerns access to healthy drinking water and efficient sanitation,” said IWSH board of trustees Chairman Dan Daniels. “By bringing the Community Plumbing Challenge home, IWSH would hope to increase awareness to the need for collaboration and improvement wherever it arises, anywhere on the planet.”
This topic chosen by the IWSH board of trustees provides ample room for exploration and solution finding by competition participants. The competition is open to any student actively enrolled in a high school, community college, trade school, four-year accredited college or university or working in an apprentice program.
Submitted essays must be the completely original work of the submitter and a minimum of 1,000 words. The essay entry deadline is May 1, 2018, via e-mail, fax or mail to IAPMO World Headquarters. The winning essay will be announced in October at the 2018 IAPMO Education and Business Conference in Philadelphia. The author of the essay awarded first prize will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a one-year paid membership to IAPMO. Second-place winner will receive a $750 scholarship and the third-place winner will receive a $500 scholarship. All winning essays will also be published in Official, IAPMO’s membership magazine, and on the IAPMO website.
Individuals who meet the qualifications to submit an essay to the competition should include your name and your school’s or education/training organization’s name. All essays should be sent to Ms. Gabriella Davis at IAPMO by e-mail at essay@IWSH.org; by fax at (909) 472-4222; or by standard mail to her attention at IAPMO, 4755 E. Philadelphia St., Ontario, CA 91761.
Ontario, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2018) – Dan Daniels, retired chief plumbing inspector for Pueblo, Colo., and a former IAPMO president (2010-11), has taken over as chairman of the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), a registered 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to work to improve on the human condition by fostering the basic human right of safe access to clean water and sanitation.
“It is an honor to serve as IWSH chairman,” Daniels said. “I want to thank the Board of Trustees members for their continued service and dedication to IWSH and extend my gratitude to all those who have donated to keep the important work of the foundation moving forward.”
A 40-year veteran of the plumbing trade, Daniels retired from the city of Pueblo after 26 years, 19 of those as chief plumbing inspector, but has remained active in the industry via his work with IAPMO committees and the IWSH Board of Trustees, of which he is a charter member. He succeeds inaugural chairman Tom Gugino.
“Serving as IWSH chairman gave me a chance to continue helping bring a basic form of sanitation to those countries where sewer systems and treatment plants are too costly to build,” Gugino said. “I will never forget the happiness I witnessed from those people we have been able to help. Together we can change lives. It has been a great honor to serve as the first chairman.
“Dan Daniels has served IAPMO on numerous committees and on the Board of Directors before becoming the vice president and president. He has served IAPMO with great distinction and will bring a wealth of knowledge to the IWSH Foundation as our new chairman.”
In November, IWSH completed the Community Plumbing Challenge 2017 (CPC2017), which improved the drinking water and sanitation facilities at a public elementary school in Indonesia. A continuation of that work, featuring an expanded team of local apprentices renovating toilets in a second building at the school, will constitute a CPC2017 “legacy” project.
Community Plumbing Challenge Aims
to Demonstrate Plumbing’s Vital Role in
Global Health
Ontario, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2017)— The first Community Plumbing Challenge Construction Week, the second half of the Community Plumbing Challenge 2017 (CPC2017) program, will begin Thursday in Cicau Village in Cikarang, Bekasi (West Java), Indonesia. The international Community Plumbing Challenge brings together design, construction and education as action for improving public health in regions where communities are still threatened by a lack of basic sanitation and safe drinking water systems.
The first part of CPC2017, Design Week, was held from July 31 to Aug. 3 at Sekolah Dasar Negeri (SDN; “Public Elementary School”) Cicau 02. During Design Week, an International Team comprising young plumbers, plumbing engineers and architects from Indonesia, India, Australia and the United States completed a surveying and design process over four days in full consultation with school management and with further input from teachers and schoolchildren. A sustainable upgrade solution for water supply, wastewater and handwashing at the school was the objective of this collaboration, and the resulting work plans will be implemented by an expanded International Team during Construction Week. The project will be delivered in full collaboration with the local community from Nov. 9 to 15.
“We are excited to welcome several of the young Design Week participants back for a second time, to Construction Week; many of them have told us that they have ‘caught the bug’, and want to do all they can to support the work through to completion,” said Project Manager Grant Stewart. “The combined skillset of our CPC2017 International Team has now been expanded to include bricklayers, welders, carpenters and tilers alongside our plumbers and plumbing engineers. We are looking forward to what will be an intensive, challenging but ultimately rewarding Construction Week. From the moment we touch down on Wednesday, November 8, the team will be reminded not only what we are here to do, but we are here to do it.”
“We are extremely grateful for the support of all our Indonesian and International partners and sponsors, with special thanks to new supporters who have connected with the CPC2017 program in the short period since Design Week,” added Project Manager Seán Kearney. “With each new project our supporter network continues to expand, and we are working hard to ensure that all organizations and their representatives will enjoy maximum benefit from their involvement in the program this year.”
You may stay tuned to all developments from CPC2017 Construction Week via Facebook and on Twitter @CommPlumbing.
CPC2017 Construction Week is presented by:
PT. IAPMO Group Indonesia (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials) – Indonesia
IWSH (International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation)
World Plumbing Council
Sponsored by:
ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers) – USA
UA Plumbers Local 78 (United Association: Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs) – USA
Pan-Pacific Mechanical – USA
P.I.P.E. (Piping Industry Progress & Education) – USA
PHCC Educational Foundation (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association) – USA
PICAC (Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre) – Australia
UA Plumbers Local 68 (United Association: Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs) – USA
UA Plumbers Local 400 (United Association: Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs) – USA
USAID (United States Agency for International Development) – USA/Indonesia
In association with:
Jakarta, Indonesia (March 30, 2017) – Cicau Village in Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java, will host this year’s international Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC), IAPMO Group CEO GP Russ Chaney announced today at the opening of the fourth annual IAPMO Indonesia Education Conference in Jakarta.
Indonesia becomes the third country to host the CPC, following India in 2015 and South Africa in 2016. Top young apprentices and professionals representing four or five different countries — including Indonesia – are expected to participate, joining forces to form a long-term international collaboration that will deliver improved sanitation infrastructure and facilities in the Cicau area and others like it. In an exciting new development from previous editions, CPC2017 will be presented in two parts — a “Design Week” in August and a “Construction Week” in November.
CPC2017 will be presented by the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation in association with the World Plumbing Council. The project will be based at local school SD Negeri Cicau 02, with a range of other promotional and participatory activities planned across the village for the duration of the event.
Speaking in Jakarta today, Chaney highlighted the CPC’s role in spearheading the mission of the newly established IWSH Foundation.
“IWSH is now in place to align efforts and extend the great work of organizations, governments and industry working across the water, sanitation and hygiene sector,” Chaney said, “while the CPC targets direct impact in the heart of communities where water systems are unsafe or unsustainable. Combined, the two platforms offer huge potential for improving living conditions and public health for specific areas in need, so we are particularly excited to launch our newest program here in Indonesia this year to continue building bridges across our growing network of local and international partners.”
PT IAPMO Group Indonesia Senior Vice President Shirley Dewi added, “Our team is highly motivated to facilitate CPC2017 in partnership with SD Negeri Cicau 02, as the village is located a mere 3 kilometers from our new testing and certification facility, which opened in 2016. Through CPC2017, we aim to develop an innovative working relationship with Cicau Village that will stretch into the years ahead; utilizing the new Indonesian Plumbing Systems Standard to make gradual gains for general public health through design and implementation of better sanitation for all.”
The IAPMO Indonesia Education Conference is a public outreach event designed to promote the importance of good plumbing systems in improving the health and safety of Indonesian citizens, safeguarding the environment, and boosting the Indonesian economy. The event is timed to follow World Plumbing Day (March 11), an occasion designed to promote awareness of the importance of plumbing to global health.
Further news and updates on CPC2017 will be available on the Community Plumbing Challenge Facebook Page and on Twitter by following @CommPlumbing.
After helping bring improved sanitation facilities and a reliable water source to an elementary school in Nashik, India, last year, the Community Plumbing Challenge headed to Johannesburg, South Africa, where the participants repaired and installed communal toilet facilities for the township of Diepsloot.
Organized by IAPMO’s newly formed International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) in collaboration with the World Plumbing Council, the international event aims to contribute to improvements to public health in regions where communities are still threatened by a lack of basic sanitation and safe drinking water systems.
CPC2016 was hosted by WASSUP Diepsloot - the Water, Amenities, Sanitation Services Upgrade Programme, a dedicated volunteer and nonprofit organization - and Diepsloot Arts & Culture Network, facilitated by Sticky Situations in collaboration with Healthabitat Sanitation Studio. Additional event partners included Autodesk Education Experiences and the Wot-If Trust.
During the week of July 9-15, four international student teams representing South Africa, Australia, India, and the United States worked together to design and install a series of new communal toilet facilities for the residents of Extension 1 Diepsloot, in collaboration with WASSUP Diepsloot.
Each team was given two concrete communal toilet units; one was to be outfitted with a system the teams had designed, and the other was to be a collaborative effort using the best aspects from each team’s design. The toilet facilities were then taken via crane to be installed in the Extension 1 section of Diepsloot, where about 750 such facilities — many of which are broken and/or in various states of disrepair — serve roughly 50,000 residents, most of whom do not have indoor sanitation facilities.
The units consist of a toilet on one side with a door that opens outward, a cistern, and some pipework that goes to the outside, where there is a trough and a tap that provides potable water.
IAPMO Managers of International Projects for IWSH, Grant Stewart and Seán Kearney organized the challenge, with Stewart working with the teams and Kearney heading the Fusion Design Hub, in which local students created animations and visuals of the design work being done to further promote the project.
The performance of the four units created by the teams will be monitored until the World Plumbing Council’s conference in Cape Town, South Africa, Sept. 15-16, to determine which was the most successful and provide further insights into design solutions that will benefit WASSUP’s work into the future.
Stewart said the local WASSUP team, who have directed the entire process of bringing the CPC to Diepsloot, can keep the momentum going. As a result of the July event, the team has built further links with such influential representatives as the Australian High Commission (South Africa), and the US Consul General (South Africa), as well as being invited to present a dedicated Science and Engineering Forum at Johannesburg Water.
“The aim now is that WASSUP will put together further funding submissions to upgrade more toilets across the Diepsloot community, which will keep their team - plus the agenda of better sanitation for all - developing into the future,” Stewart said. “We’re also looking at how we can incorporate further training that’ll allow those guys to further develop their business. So that’s a key outcome: enabling more people on the ground to take better care of their shared sanitation infrastructure, while also building a sustainable living for themselves by providing general plumbing maintenance in the community.”
Follow us on Twitter @CommPlumbing
Ontario, Calif. (March 11, 2019) — In celebration of World Plumbing Day 2019 — a day that recognizes the vital role plumbing plays in protecting public health and improving amenity — the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), has announced two new project assignments that are now open for interested volunteer and sponsorship applications.
The first project announcement represents another step in the IWSH partnership with the Nepal Village Health Improvement Program, from Australian NGO Healthabitat O/S. Slated for the end of May, this assignment will focus on completion of new water supply, hand washing, toilets and waste disposal systems for Laangarche Lapse School and Pancha Kanya School, which are located a short distance apart in the mountainous Sindhupalchok region northeast of capital Kathmandu.
IWSH will assign two volunteer plumbers to this latest Healthabitat O/S project, and all international travel plus local transfers, accommodation and board for the duration of the project will be fully sponsored for the selected candidates.
“IWSH and IAPMO have supported our work in Nepal in various ways for the last six years, and during that time they have provided a constant flow of skilled and hard-working tradespeople from all over the world to lead plumbing and other construction aspects of our projects,” said Dave Donald, Healthabitat O/S program manager. “The technical expertise and energy these volunteers bring to our teams is invaluable, and we look forward to welcoming the next pairing to Sindhupalchok because the two selected school sites are in great need. Their work is going to be greatly appreciated, for the impact it will ultimately make on general public health in the surrounding community.”
Interested volunteers are invited to register their details, here www.commplumbing.org/eoi-nepal-201905
The second project announcement is the next installment of the Community Plumbing Challenge, Navajo Nation program. This follows hot on the heels of the October 2018 pilot IWSH-Navajo Water Project collaboration; a partnership with U.S. Water Prize-winning non-profit DigDeep. This pilot project delivered running water, safe wastewater disposal and a range of other building renovations to 10 households across the Baca-Prewitt chapter, in the area surrounding Thoreau, New Mexico; provided by a team of more than 30 skilled tradespeople from across the United States, with further international volunteers joining from Australia, Canada, Ireland and South Africa.
The next collaboration is slated for early June and will see a newly-assembled international Trades Team support DigDeep’s newest community outreach across the remote region of Navajo Mountain, on the Arizona-Utah state border.
“Navajo Mountain is the next challenge in DigDeep’s mission to bring safe, running water and sanitation to the people of the Navajo Nation — who represent just a fraction of the 1.6 million people across the United States today who still live without,” said Emma Robbins, Navajo Water project director for DigDeep. “Our developing partnership with IWSH and their Community Plumbing Challenge program is raising the standard and quality of the home water installations we are providing, helping improve maintenance procedures, and creating further education and training opportunities. We are sharing new skills, new ideas, new perspectives … and all of these are vital as we progress together toward our next community partnership with the Navajo Mountain chapter.”
Interested volunteers — plus groups or larger companies and organizations who would like to get involved — are invited to register their details, here.
“Water, sanitation and plumbing are vital to global health, so it is very fitting to announce these new projects on World Plumbing Day,” said Dain Hansen, managing director of IWSH. “Both are continuations of existing programs: strengthening new and existing partnerships and ensuring that real, long-term benefit for the host communities — in terms of improved access to water and sanitation enhancing living environments, impacting public health, and stopping people getting sick — is being achieved. We encourage any interested parties, whether they are young students and apprentices, experienced professional contractors, or larger companies and manufacturers, to get in touch and let us know how they would like to get involved!”
For more info on Healthabitat O/S Nepal Village Health Improvement Program
For more info on DigDeep Navajo Water Project
Successful Navajo Nation CPC Concludes
in Thoreau, New Mexico
Thoreau, N.M. (Nov. 5, 2018) — Prewitt resident Marie Jones has never had running water in the house her father built, despite repeated pleas for help. Thanks to the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation’s recently completed 2018 Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC), clean, running water is now only a turn of the faucet away.
“I’m so happy and excited with the water,” said Jones, who frequently takes care of her grandchildren. “I’m just so thankful, because I don’t know how I would have done this. Now I won’t be depending on somebody to get water for me, and water in a bucket doesn’t last long.”
The CPC’s focus was the Navajo Water Project, an initiative of the U.S.-based nonprofit organization DigDeep that was among the 2018 recipients of the U.S. Water Prize. The initiative’s goal is to help ensure that every American has clean, running water forever. The St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School in Thoreau, a small town in Northwestern New Mexico, hosted the event.
Jones’ home was one of 10 nominated by DigDeep for the Navajo Nation CPC. None of the homes had adequate sanitation systems, running water or safe electrical systems. By the end of the week, they all had new sanitation and leeching systems and safe electrical systems, and nine of the 10 had running water. A multi-disciplined team of skilled tradespeople traveled from throughout the United States and as far as away as Australia and South Africa to perform the work.
Randy Lorge, Instructor of Plumbing Apprenticeship at UA Local 400 Plumbers & Steamfitters in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, also participated in the three previous Community Plumbing Challenges. He said the Navajo Nation CPC was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
“In all my travels to developing countries helping deliver safe water and sanitation systems, I have never seen as horrible of conditions as I have this week on the Navajo Indian reservation,” he said. “It was one of the most exhausting and rewarding weeks of my life. I am so proud I was able to be a part of the Community Plumbing Challenge and had the opportunity to work with other like-minded plumbers from not only the United States but around the world.”
The week began with a welcome ceremony and the “Water and Sanitation Crisis in America Roundtable: Government & Industry Working Together for Solutions” at the Thoreau Chapter House. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-Santa Fe, and U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-Albuquerque, attended the welcome ceremony and roundtable. In addition to focusing on issues concerning tribal lands, the roundtable looked at issues facing the more than 1.6 million people across the U.S. without access to clean water and safe sanitation.
Residents had the opportunity to show their appreciation during a community forum at the Baca-Prewitt Chapter House on Oct. 24, during which Prewitt resident Regina Vandever, another of the recipients, prepared dinner for all of the volunteers. A number of the CPC’s beneficiaries thanked the volunteers during the event.
The Navajo Nation CPC was sponsored by LIXIL/American Standard; the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO); Plumbers Local Union 412 (New Mexico and El Paso, Texas); the Piping Industry Progress & Education (P.I.P.E.) Trust Fund/NITC; United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States, Canada (UA); World Plumbing Council; Reliance Worldwide Corporation/Sharkbite Plumbing Solutions; Plumbing Contractors of America/Mechanical Contractors Association of America (PCA/MCAA); Plumbers Local Union No. 400 (Kaukauna, Wisconsin); Plumbers Local Union No. 12 (Dorchester, Massachusetts); Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC); Plumbers Local Union No. 68 (Houston); Plumbers Local Union No. 78 (Los Angeles); American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE); Milwaukee Tool; G.E. Appliances, the PHCC Educational Foundation; Plumbers Local Union No. 798 (Tulsa, Oklahoma); and Thrivent Financial.
For more information about the Navajo Nation CPC, visit the project website at www.commplumbing.org or email info@iwsh.org.
Photos available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/148632334@N06/albums
Washington, D.C. (Oct. 19, 2018) — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich is among the dignitaries expected to attend the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation’s 2018 Community Plumbing Challenge, which begins Monday in Thoreau, New Mexico.Washington, D.C. (Oct. 3, 2018) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation is offering the special opportunity to attend the 2018 international Community Plumbing Challenge as an Ambassador. Ambassadors will participate in a special two-day slate of events Oct. 21-22, including a welcome dinner, project site visits, and a roundtable discussion with key policymakers and industry thought leaders.
This exclusive experience will give participants an intimate look at this year’s project and provide an opportunity to engage with colleagues from industry and government to discuss how we can better work together to solve America’s water and sanitation crisis.
Following the Oct. 22 welcome ceremony kicking off this year’s CPC, Ambassadors are invited to attend the “Water and Sanitation Crisis in America Roundtable: Government & Industry Working Together for Solutions” at the Thoreau Chapter House. The discussion will include leaders from the Navajo Nation, policymakers from the local, state and federal levels, and industry thought leaders. In addition to focusing on issues concerning tribal lands, the roundtable will look at issues facing the more than 1.6 million people across the U.S. without access to clean water and safe sanitation.
“By engaging industry partners, policymakers, and IWSH supporters through this new Ambassador Program, we hope to raise awareness of the magnitude of the water crisis we face in the United States,” said IWSH board Chairman Dan Daniels. “These stakeholders are vital to helping American communities find solutions to these challenges, and it is imperative that the conversation include the voices from those both within and outside of the water sector.”
The Navajo Nation CPC, set for Oct. 22-26 in Thoreau, New Mexico, assembles a multi-disciplined team of skilled tradespeople to execute plumbing and construction projects that will improve living conditions in approximately 10 households nominated by U.S.-based nonprofit organization DigDeep. Inside homes, a range of bathroom and kitchen renovations will be carried out, including the installation of new basins, taps, toilets, water tanks, water pumps, and hot- and cold-water pipework. These renovations and repairs are required in order for these homes to be connected to water supply systems. Meanwhile, efforts outdoors will address the installation of, and connection to, new wastewater systems.
Space is limited for this exclusive opportunity. A limited number of press credentials will also be available for the roundtable discussion Oct. 22. For more information about becoming an Ambassador, contact IWSH Managing Director Dain Hansen at (202) 445-7514 or email info@iwsh.org.
Washington, D.C. (Aug. 9, 2018) — LIXIL, the pioneering manufacturer of such brands as American Standard and Grohe, and the Piping Industry Progress & Education Trust Fund (P.I.P.E.) have generously extended support, both financial and products/materials, to the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation’s 2018 International Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) in Northwestern New Mexico from Oct. 22-26.
As Gold Level sponsors, LIXIL and P.I.P.E. become invaluable partners with IWSH and DigDeep’s Navajo Water Project as the CPC team provides households in the Baca-Prewitt area of the Navajo reservation with access to water and improved sanitation. The inclusion of products and materials in LIXIL’s sponsorship ensures project recipient homes will be equipped with some of the highest quality, most dependable products the industry has to offer.
“For more than 140 years, American Standard protected the health of our nation by providing access to safe plumbing,” said Troy Benavidez, vice president, public affairs, LIXIL Americas. “Now, as part of LIXIL, we have a commitment to bring safe sanitation to communities around the world and in our own backyard. We are thrilled to support IWSH and the DigDeep Navajo Water Project and are committed to assuring residents in the Baca-Prewitt area of the reservation have access to clean water and improved sanitation to make their lives healthier and safer.”
The Navajo Nation CPC assembles a multi-disciplined team of skilled tradespeople to execute plumbing and construction projects that will improve living conditions in approximately 10 households nominated by U.S.-based nonprofit organization DigDeep. Inside homes, a range of bathroom and kitchen renovations will be carried out, including the installation of new basins, taps, toilets, water tanks, water pumps, and hot- and cold-water pipework. Meanwhile, efforts outdoors will address the installation of, and connection to, new wastewater systems.
“We are committed to community-oriented projects that improve what surrounds us,” said Jaime Valdivia, P.I.P.E. director. “That is why we are excited to partner with and support the IWSH Foundation’s CPC. This challenge brings out the best in people and helps build a better future for the beneficiary families.”
IWSH is actively recruiting team members, sponsors, and partners for October’s Navajo Nation CPC. If you wish to be a sponsor, please direct your web browser here. If you would like to participate in the Navajo Nation CPC, go here. For more information about the event, visit the project website or email info@iwsh.org.
“Having strong support is vital to any humanitarian project, and the philanthropic work IWSH is convening this year in the Navajo Nation is no different,” said Dan Daniels, chairman of the IWSH Board of Trustees. “We are thrilled to have LIXIL and P.I.P.E. committing to be gold sponsors for our project this fall. Securing support from manufacturers and labor, as we see from their high-level support, shows the breadth, backing, and enthusiasm the industry holds for our upcoming Community Plumbing Challenge.”
About IWSH
IWSH is uniquely positioned to maximize the standardization and implementation of water and sanitation services by combining a near century of technical expertise, promoting international codes, standards, and regulations across the industry. It works to create innovative strategies, partnerships, and in-country programs that will result in direct real-world impact through the enhancement of physical schools, facilities, and the upskilling of thousands of workers across the globe. The foundation’s vision goes beyond clean water and sanitation — it is to build the framework, work force, and supply chains to sustainably grow these services in every country.
About LIXIL
LIXIL makes pioneering water and housing products that solve every day, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high quality products that transform homes. But the LIXIL difference is how we do this; through meaningful design, an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to improving accessibility for all, and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry leading brands, including LIXIL, GROHE, American Standard and FIAT. Over 70,000 colleagues operating in 150 countries are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day.
Learn more at www.lixil.com, facebook.com/lixilgroup and www.linkedin.com/company/lixil-group.
About P.I.P.E.
P.I.P.E. was formed in 1980 to improve communications between labor and management, to explore joint approaches to problems and to prevent potential problems, to improve occupational safety and health and other working conditions. The P.I.P.E. Partnership is a 3-way partnership between Labor, Management, and the customer. We are the joint Labor and Management cooperation committee and trust fund for the unionized plumbing, piping and HVACR industries in Southern California. We are the vehicle through which union contractors and union pipe trades workers advance the industry.
Learn more at www.pipe.org.
Ontario, Calif. (March 13, 2018) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), in collaboration with PT. IAPMO Group Indonesia and the World Plumbing Council, on Tuesday facilitated completion of the third international Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC2017), bringing improved drinking water and sanitation facilities to a public elementary school in Indonesia. CPC2017 was delivered across three separate projects between August 2017 and March 2018: Design Week, Construction Week Phase One and Construction Week Phase Two, also known as the Legacy Project.
To mark the Legacy Project’s completion, the International Team was honored in a short ceremony Tuesday that also sought to reinforce the critical messages of personal hygiene, saving water and using the new toilet and hand-washing facilities correctly and effectively. Attendees included representatives of Pemerintah Kabupaten Bekasi, the government of Bekasi Regency.
The projects completed at Sekolah Dasar Negeri (SDN) Cicau 02 in Cicau Village, Cikarang, Bekasi (West Java), included the installation of eight new toilets; dedicated tap points in each toilet for dip flushing the toilets and cleaning the floors and walls; new hand-washing troughs; improved ventilation and natural light; two 2,000-liter water tanks and stands (replacing one 1,000-liter water tank); new evapotranspiration absorption beds as the final treatment for effluent; new widened pathways and improved access; and new litter disposal, sorting and collection point.
The upgraded facilities were designed and built referencing the new Indonesian Plumbing Standard, SNI 8153:2015, while incorporating expertise from IWSH partner Healthabitat O/S that was gained from the Healthabitat Nepal Village Sanitation and School Toilet Construction program.
In addition to the construction work, participants engaged in outreach across both the host school community and surrounding residential areas. These activities included classroom lessons and games addressing health, hygiene, plumbing and design; an ongoing series of hand-washing demonstrations; plumbing maintenance training with school staff; and the introduction of plumbing codes and standards to local industry.
Public health awareness and health screening events were also held in collaboration with Cikarang District Health Clinic and Kantor Desa Cicau (Village Authority Head Office), and mural painting and school art competitions marked World Plumbing Day 2018, celebrated March 11. Plumbing and construction skills demonstrations were held for schoolchildren and staff members.
The International Team present for the Legacy Project, which took place March 6-13, was Jati Pambudi of PT. IAPMO Group Indonesia; Raihan Rifqi Alfarez, Tommy Setyawan, Rahmat Mifathul Rangkuti, and Zaenal Bakhri of SMK 01, Jakarta; Matthew Lee O'Brien, Jake Matthew McLaren, and Steven Jeffery of PICAC/Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, Australia; and Kade Preston of PICAC, Victoria, Australia) Three local contractors accompanied this group for the majority of the Legacy Project assignment, with the aim of encouraging additional skills exchange and education across the team.
The CPC2017 Legacy Project organizing team comprised IWSH International Project Managers Grant Stewart (Australia) and Seán Kearney (Ireland), IAPMO India Project Manager Swathi Saralaya, and PT. IAPMO Group Indonesia Office Manager Roy August. The organizing team was joined by Adrian Welke of Troppo Architects/Healthabitat O/S (Australia).
“Throughout the course of this Legacy Project, the organizing team held meetings with a variety of local and international groups with the target of developing further Community Plumbing-inspired projects in the surrounding region of Indonesia, and it is hoped that these potential collaborations will emerge in the months ahead,” Stewart said.
See the CPC2017 Legacy Project on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CommunityPlumbingChallenge/and on Twitter by following @CommPlumbing.
CPC 2017 was sponsored by:
ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers) – USA
UA Plumbers Local 78 (United Association: Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs) – USA
Pan-Pacific Mechanical – USA
P.I.P.E. (Piping Industry Progress & Education) – USA
PHCC Educational Foundation (Plumbing - Heating - Cooling Contractors Association) – USA
PICAC (Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre) – Australia
UA Plumbers Local 68 (United Association: Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs) – USA
UA Plumbers Local 400 (United Association: Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs) – USA
USAID (United States Agency for International Development) – USA/Indonesia
In association with:
American Welding Society – USA/Indonesia
PT. Asian Welding Specialist – Indonesia
Ayooklik – Indonesia
BSN (Badan Standardisasi Nasional/National Standardization Agency) – Indonesia
Cikarang District Health Clinic – Indonesia
Healthabitat O/S – Australia
IAPMO India (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials) – India
Lincoln Electric – USA/Indonesia
Milwaukee Tool – USA
SAN-EI – Indonesia
SST Singapore (School of Science and Technology) – Singapore
SMK 01, Jakarta (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan/Vocational High School) – Indonesia
SMK 26, Jakarta (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan/Vocational High School) – Indonesia
Singapore Plumbing Society
Smart Komodo Consulting – Indonesia
Swinburne University of Technology – Australia
PT. Surya TOTO – Indonesia
Troppo Architects – Australia
University of Western Australia
PT. Wahana Duta Jaya Rucika – Indonesia
Ontario, Calif. (Feb. 26, 2018) — The Community Plumbing Challenge 2017 Legacy Project, which will complete the sustainable plan for improved drinking water and sanitation facilities at a public elementary school in Indonesia, will take place March 6-13. The dates coincide with World Plumbing Day, celebrated annually on March 11.
CPC2017 took place at the elementary school Sekolah Dasar Negeri (SDN) Cicau 02 in Cicau Village, Cikarang, Bekasi (West Java). The program was delivered in two parts: a Design Week from July 31 to Aug. 3, 2017, and a Construction Week from Nov. 9 to 15, 2017.
In 2017, Indonesia became the third country in as many years to host the international Community Plumbing Challenge program, following India in 2015 and South Africa in 2016. The event brings together design, construction and education as a means of improving public health in regions where communities are still threatened by a lack of basic sanitation and safe drinking water systems.
The upcoming Legacy Project will complete renovation of the remaining toilet facilities at SDN Cicau 02 and will include construction of another hand-washing area for the second building at the school. This work represents Phase Two of the overall plan developed by the first CPC2017 International Team during Design Week.
On completion of the CPC2017 Legacy Project, more than 60 people will have participated in the program, from backgrounds as diverse as plumbing to project management, engineering to architecture, construction to coaching, and media to public health. In yet another new development of the Community Plumbing Challenge collaborative team model, the upcoming Legacy Project will also incorporate local contractors into the fold.
“Engaging local tradespeople was key in preparing the site for our first Construction Week,” IWSH Project Manager Grant Stewart said. “Ahead of that International Team assignment last November, a team of Cicau-based contractors carried out groundworks at the school in accordance with our Design Week plan: digging trenches, preparing concrete footings and initial brickwork. Their work was vital and meant our International Team could really hit the ground running on arrival to start work on the new toilet, hand-washing and wastewater facilities.
“For the final phase – the Legacy Project – we have decided to involve these local contractors again, only this time, as part of the International Team itself: to work alongside us for the duration of our week onsite. We believe they will provide the young students and apprentices with a unique perspective on the plumbing and construction work being carried out, and hopefully, vice versa. A skills exchange like no other! We have seen this approach used by IWSH partner Healthabitat O/S in their Village Sanitation Program in Nepal, so are keen to learn how the involvement of more local tradespeople can enhance our Community Plumbing Challenge project teams.”
The CPC2017 Legacy Project will once again feature students from the local vocational school system working alongside international peers. Four 11th-grade students from vocational school Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan 01, Jakarta will join three plumbing apprentices and one construction teacher representing PICAC – the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre – from Victoria, Australia.
You may stay tuned to all developments from the CPC2017 Legacy Project via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CommunityPlumbingChallenge/ and Twitter by following @CommPlumbing.
PT IAPMO Mengadakan Kegiatan
Community Plumbing Challenge 2017
Liputan6.com, Cicau Cikarang 10 November 2017 - Akses untuk air bersih dan sanitasi yang baik merupakan hak asasi setiap manusia. Walaupun demikian peranan sistem plambing seringkali terlupakan.
PT IAPMO Group Indonesia melakukan kemitraan dengan Yayasan International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) mengadakan kegiatan Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC-2017) untuk membangun fasilitas sanitasi, mengkonstruksi toilet, instalasi air bersih dan sistem air limbah. Melalui kemitraan ini, CPC-Indonesia merancang dan memasang fasilitas toilet baru yang akan dihibahkan ke sebuah sekolah pilihan di Indonesia.
Bagian pertama dari CPC2017 Design Week, diadakan dari tanggal 31 Juli sampai 3 Agustus yang lalu di Sekolah Dasar Negeri Cicau 02. Selama Design Week, sebuah Tim Internasional yang terdiri dari ahli plambing, insinyur plambing dan arsitek dari Indonesia, India, Australia dan Amerika Serikat menyelesaikan survei dan proses desain selama empat hari dengan konsultasi penuh dengan manajemen sekolah dan dengan masukan lebih lanjut dari guru dan anak sekolah. Solusi untuk mengganti tangki penampungan air, air limbah dan cuci tangan di sekolah adalah tujuan kolaborasi ini, dan rencana kerja yang dihasilkan akan dilaksanakan oleh sebuah Tim Internasional yang handal selama CPC2017 Construction Week.
Pada CPC2017 Construction Week telah ditentukan tetap di lokasi SDN Cicau 02, Cikarang dengan menghadirkan para ahli plambing, guru dan murid plambing, arsitek, perancang dan insinyur dari berbagai negara seperti Australia, India, Indonesia, Irlandia dan Amerika Serikat yang tergabung dalam Tim Internasional CPC2017.
Tim internasional merenovasi fasilitas toilet di SDN Cicau 02 dengan memperluas toilet yang sudah ada di kedua gedung sekolah. Dari 4 toilet yang sudah ada menjadi 8 toilet yang layak untuk digunakan oleh 12 staff dan 300 murid. Tak hanya itu, Tim Internasional CPC 2017 juga membangun area untuk mencuci tangan yang baru di depan fasilitas toilet dan memasang 2 tangki penyimpanan air baru yang ditinggikan untuk meningkatkan pasokan air serta sistem pembuangan air limbah baru di sekolah.
Menurut Grant Stewart asal Australia, selaku IWSH Project Manager: “Kami memilih SDN 02 Cicau sebagai tempat untuk CPC2017 karena saya melihat kondisi kebersihan dan kesehatan yang memerlukan penanganan secara bersama seperti tempat mencuci tangan, perlunya membangun toilet yang lebih banyak untuk para murid, masalah pada pompa air dan keluarnya air. Sehingga pada akhirnya kami ingin melihat masyarakat dan para keluarga disini menjadi lebih sehat dan lebih memperhatikan kebersihan”
Ada salah satu peserta dari kota New York tergerak ikut serta dalam CPC2017 mengatakan : “Kegiatan ini sangat penting untuk semua orang untuk mendapatkan air bersih. Ini adalah pertama kalinya saya ke Indonesia, tantangannya adalah mengkombinasikan keahlian arsitektur, konstruksi dan bidang lain yang sesuai untuk menyediakan fasilitas sanitasi dan kebutuhan air bersih di daerah terpencil.” Ujar Vinny Falkowski asal Amerika Serikat, mewakili America Society of Plumbing Engineers.
Greg Tink asal Australia, mewakili Plumbing Industry Climate Action Center mengatakan “Ini pertama kalinya saya ke Indonesia untuk membangun sistem toilet dan sanitasi untuk murid di sekolah untuk mendapatkan air bersih agar menjadi lebih sehat.”
Selain team Internasional ikut pula team dari Indonesia yaitu Budiman Syahputra asal Indonesia, sebagai Guru Plambing : “Berawal dari mengikuti event plambing internasional, saya bergabung di CPC2017. Dalam membuat design instalasi sanitasi sempat terjadi beberapa perbedaan pendapat, namun pada akhirnya desain bisa disesuaikan dengan fungsinya”
“Bekerja sama dengan orang dari berbagai negara merupakan pengalaman pertama bagi kami. Disini kami belajar untuk disiplin dan mendalami tentang plambing.” Taufik hidayat dan Taufik Iqbal asal Indonesia, sebagai Relawan.
CPC 2017 ini menjadi awal untuk membangun kepedulian warga tentang pentingnya air bersih bagi kehidupan mereka. Dengan kondisi sanitasi di SDN Cicau 02 yang memprihatinkan, IWSH bekerjasama dengan IAPMO Group Indonesia bersama dengan dukungan dari World Plumbing Council memperbaikinya sebagai contoh untuk para warga masyarakat Cikarang. Kegiatan ini akan diselesaikan oleh Tim Internasional yang berasal dari berbagai Negara pada CPC2017 Construction Week mulai tanggal 9 November sampai 15 November 2017.
Cicau Cikarang, 11 November 2017 - Selain sedang merenovasi toilet dan sarana kebersihan lainnya di SDN Cicau 02 Cikarang, pada tanggal 11 November 2017 Team dari International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH)berkesempatan untuk mengadakan Kegiatan sosial bertemakan pentingnya kebersihan untuk kesehatan masyarakat. Kegiatan yang dilaksanakan di Balai Desa Cicau meliputi kegiatan pengobatan gratis serta penyuluhan tentang pentingnya mencuci tangan yang baik dan benar untuk kesehatan.
Beberapa warga yang datang merasa antusias dengan adanya kegiatan ini. Salah satunya adalah Ibu Juriah, Ketua PKK desa Cicau. Beliau menyampaikan bahwa kegiatan Community Plumbing Challenge 2017 (CPC2017) ini dapat menambah wawasan untuk anak-anak agar tahu cara mencuci tangan yang benar serta seberapa pentingnya kebersihan. Berbeda lagi dengan Ibu Herlina, warga Cicau yang mengeluhkan betapa sulitnya mendapatkan air bersih di desa Cicau. Walaupun menggunakan PDAM, tetapi air tetap tidak terdistribusi dengan baik. Untuk mandi seringkali warga membeli air bersih, namun jika tidak ada uang, warga lebih sering mandi dan mencuci di empang. Bahkan untuk mencuci tangan sering kali hanya menggunakan sabun seadanya. Lain lagi dengan Bapak Irin yang berprofesi sebagai seorang petani. Beliau mengutarakan keluh kesahnya tentang saluran pipa air yang belum sampai ke desanya. Beliau sangat berharap saluran pipa air bisa sampai ke desanya agar bisa lebih mudah untuk mendapatkan air bersih, karena jika kemarau datang, sumur dirumahnya menjadi kering.
Peran para dokter disini sangat penting. Dokter Aria Sarlito yang secara sukarela ikut serta dalam CPC2017 mengajarkan anak-anak tentang tahapan mencuci tangan yang benar dan menggunakan sabun agar higienis. Tangan kita menyentuh banyak benda yang mungkin saja mengandung banyak kuman. Mencuci tangan yang benar adalah membersihkan secara keseluruhan agar bersih dari kotoran dan membunuh kuman yang dapat menyebabkan penyakit. Langkah-langkah mencuci tangan juga dijelaskan dengan sangat menarik dan menggunakan lagu agar anak-anak dapat mudah mengingatnya.
Beberapa anak-anak yang sempat diwawancarai adalah Ardan, Rahmat dan Fatur. Mereka merupakan siswa SDN Cicau 01. Mereka sangat antusias menghafalkan langkah-langkah mencuci tangan yang benar. Selain itu mereka juga berharap kegiatan CPC2017 juga dapat merenovasi toilet dan sanitasi di sekolah mereka. Lain lagi dengan Alia dan Bunga yang juga merupakan siswi kelas 6 di SDN Cicau 01. Menurut mereka toilet di sekolahnya sangat kotor dan banyak kuman. Kesadaran para siswa untuk menjaga kebersihan toilet masih sangat kurang. Walaupun sudah diajarkan cara menggunakan toilet yg benar oleh para guru, tetap saja kepedulian para siswa masih sangat kurang.
Selain mengajarkan cara mencuci tangan yang baik dan benar, Dr Yuke Rishna Arryani sebagai dokter umum yang sering melakukan pengobatan gratis di balai desa Cicau mengungkapkan, bahwa tidak sedikit warga Cicau yang terserang diare. Penyebabnya bisa dari beberapa faktor, namun salah satunya adalah karena ketersediaan air bersih yang kurang lancar. Di puskesmas desa cicau sendiri sudah disediakan klinik konseling untuk sanitasi, sehingga pasien yang terkena diare bisa dirujuk ke klinik konseling untuk diedukasi. Menurut dokter Yuke, setiap tahunnya warga yang terkena diare jumlahnya terus menurun. Dengan adanya kegiatan CPC2017 ini, secara tidak langsung membantu program mereka untuk memberi kesadaran betapa pentingnya air bersih. Bapak Salih yang juga berprofesi sebagai perawat menyampaikan, semoga pembangunan sanitasi menjadi lebih merata agar warga di desa cicau ini bisa merasakan manfaat toilet baru dan secara tidak langsung dapat membuat warga lebih mengerti pentingnya kebersihan diri.
IWSH Community Plumbing Challenge bertujuan untuk berkontribusi terhadap perbaikan kesehatan masyarakat di wilayah masih terancam oleh kurangnya sanitasi dasar dan sistem air minum yang aman. Program ini telah diselenggarakan di India (2015), Afrika Selatan (2016) dan tahun ini di Indonesia.
Ini adalah gerakan dari para profesional beserta para siswa magang dari SMK yang bekerja di bidang kesehatan dan sanitasi yang akan menunjukkan kepada masyarakat bagaimana cara terbaik untuk membangun sarana setempat, dan akan mendidik masyarakat sekitar tentang manfaat dari pendekatan tersebut.
CPC2017 yang berlangsung sejak tanggal 9 November sampai 15 November 2017 di SD Negeri Cicau Cikarang merupakan contoh yang sangat inspiratif. Diharapkan program ini bisa berlansung secara merata dan dapat menjadi contoh betapa pentingnya air bersih, mencuci tangan dengan benar, sanitasi serta toilet yang layak dan bersih bagi kesehatan.
Sticky Situations, one of the hosts of the Community Plumbing Challenge 2016 in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, South Africa, has been awarded a grant of approximately ZAR 500,000 to develop the next phase of the Water, Amenities and Sanitation Services Upgrade Program (WASSUP) Diepsloot. Sticky Situations has facilitated the inception, training, and growth of this community-led co-operative in Diepsloot since Global Studio initiated the program, in collaboration with local government officials, in Johannesburg in 2007.
The grant has been approved by the Direct Aid Programme (DAP) of the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in South Africa. The DAP supports nonprofit organizations working in local communities on activities that support sustainable and equitable development, including education and skills, human rights, disability inclusiveness, and women’s social and economic empowerment.
The successful application outlines ambitious plans for a new workshop and training facility on the site of the Diepsloot Housing Authority office in the sprawling neighborhood of Extension 1, combined with renovation of an adjacent public toilet and washroom and repairs and maintenance for 25 of the 643 communal toilet facilities in the surrounding area. These projects will be supported by the ongoing development of formally accredited, on-the-job training opportunities for local apprentice plumbers and other tradespeople, which will increase the WASSUP team’s capacity and encourage further collaboration with municipal authorities and industry partners that can be replicated in other, similar locations.
The ongoing program targets aspects of the recently ratified UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the need to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all (Goal #6), ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all (Goal #3) and building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation (Goal #9). The Global Studio program – which was convened by Dr. Anna Rubbo, then at University of Sydney, and initiated the Diepsloot Sanitation project – grew out of the Millennium Development Goals, which preceded the SDGs.
Australian High Commission representatives Stacy Walker (First Secretary) and Sarah Dippenaar (Senior Research and Program Officer) were welcomed to Diepsloot during the Community Plumbing Challenge event in July 2016, and presented with a tour of upgrade sites across the township. Following this, the Australian CPC team was invited to meet with the Australian High Commissioner to South Africa, Adam McCarthy, in Pretoria.
Sticky Situations facilitator Jennifer van den Bussche, an Australian who has lived in South Africa for the past decade, is responsible for this latest, successful funding application on behalf of WASSUP:
“Adequate communal sanitation is a constant challenge for our Johannesburg communities and local government, therefore we continually work together to find solutions. A great deal of time, energy and effort goes into applying for funding support across public and private sectors, as well as to international bodies, for our ongoing endeavours. In this case, I am extremely proud that my home country will now be contributing to this ongoing, holistic program that looks to improve sanitation conditions as well as work toward professional training for future careers,” Ms. van den Bussche said.
Following these new developments, plans are under way for a CPC2016 follow-up project designed to dovetail with the opening of the new WASSUP base and roll-out of the DAP-supported sanitation works and plumbing training in Diepsloot. More information will be communicated in the coming months, and the organizations concerned welcome all additional ideas, feedback and plumbing industry input as they continue to move forward with the program.
Ontario, Calif. (June 15, 2016) — The IAPMO Group is proud to announce the formation of The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation whose mission is to work to improve on the human condition by fostering the basic human right of safe access to clean water and sanitation. The foundation’s website is www.iwsh.org.
According to the 2016 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 2.4 billion people lack access to such basic sanitation services as toilets or latrines, and water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of the global population; this number is projected to rise. IWSH will seek to align IAPMO’s existing projects throughout the world with those of government, industry and the communities where the association works to ensure water systems are safe and sustainable.
The foundation’s Board of Trustees consists of five former members of IAPMO’s Board of Directors: Chairman Tom Gugino, Treasurer Bud Riestenberg, and Alfred Ortega, Dan Daniels, and Bill Erickson. Gugino said he was humbled and excited to be appointed to the position.
“I must confess that as a second-generation plumber, I had taken 24/7 access to a potable water system for granted,” Gugino said. “IAPMO sent Jed Scheuermann and myself to Nepal in January of 2013 to assist Healthabitat with devising waste management solutions for villages in the impoverished nation. The harsh reality of what we found there made me think about the purpose of our plumbing code to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. We saw how a septic tank having a building with a rain gutter draining into a water holding tank elevated each family's ability to live a healthy life. Please join with us to change lives by providing a basic form of sanitation to protect their public health.”
IAPMO CEO Russ Chaney said the organization has long been keenly aware of its obligation to society and the experience and skills it can bring to an effort to either eliminate or largely reduce the challenges that many around the globe face in just day-to-day survival.
“With the support of numerous like-minded partners, the creation of the IWSH Foundation will continue to work to enhance the living conditions for those who are faced with the daily challenges of living a healthy lifestyle,” he said. “In many countries it is not possible to gain access to education and personal growth without the ability to have a safe living environment and access to the essentials of life — potable water and safe sanitary conditions. I look forward to our efforts, which will be strategically developed under the IWSH banner, in support of the basic human right of access to safe water and sanitation.”
For more information about the IWSH Foundation, please visit www.iwsh.org.
