26
Health and sanitation
IAPMO 2016 scholarship
essay contest
By IAPMO submission by Noah Ramsey
Russ Chaney
In the spirit of the sharing
of unique experiences
that shape the plumbing
industries in our
respective nations, the
following essay won
second place in IAPMO’s
annual Scholarship
Essay Competition. First
introduced in 2009 and
open to all high school,
university, and trade school
students, the competition
has elicited entries from
across the world. Written
by Noah Ramsey of duPont
Manual High School in
Louisville, Kentucky, it is the
next in a regular series of
similar articles that will run in
this magazine.
Of all the IAPMO Group’s core competencies, which division
do you feel is making the greatest impact, and why?
Many people die each year because they do not
have the basic human right of access to clean water
and proper sanitation.
More than one-third of the world’s population lives
without access to proper toilets; 663 million people
lack access to clean water. That is why I feel the IAPMO
division focusing its core competency on solar rainwater
harvesting, grey water, and reclaimed water systems is
making the greatest impact.
The International Association of Plumbing and
Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) may not be a common
household name, but it is doing important work behind
the scenes every day to help lead the way to a ‘greener’,
cleaner tomorrow. Crucial and much-needed change
is being made. Water resources are beginning to be
handled in a more effective and efficient manner, while
safely increasing access to water for more people in the
world. This focus on both conservation and accessibility
while maintaining safety is what makes the IAPMO
efforts related to water so important and successful.
IAPMO leadership’s partnership with WaterSense is
an example of the significance of corporations and
communities working together to conserve our water
resources. WaterSense is a programme through the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
that works with corporations to certify their products
as being at least 20% more efficient without sacrificing
their quality and performance. This WaterSense label
signifies to consumers that they can have confidence
that the money they are spending on the product is
supporting an industrywide effort to minimise impact on
the environment. WaterSense certification also allows
consumers to have confidence that they do not have to
sacrifice quality for environmental consciousness.
The EPA has certifications for showerheads, faucets,
and other commercial products, and educates
August 2017 Volume 23 I Number 6
consumers about what they can do in their own
homes, yards, and companies to reduce water usage.
IAPMO was one of the first partners working with
WaterSense and has continued to be a leader in
efforts to educate the public and encourage corporate
innovation in water conservation. This leadership in
water conservation is why I feel that this IAPMO core
competency is the most successful.
IAPMO has also led the way in drafting changes to the
Uniform Plumbing Code. Efforts have been made since
2008 so that grey water (untreated, non-toilet, household
waste water) can be used safely and extend the life of our
water resources. It is estimated that 50% of household
waste water may be grey water. The efforts IAPMO have
made to safely reclassify grey water in the Uniform
Plumbing Code for purposes of irrigation and other non-
potable uses has had a significant impact on future designs
and conservation efforts. By monitoring the nationwide
efforts, including testing and inspecting in states like
California and Arizona, where water conservation can be
crucial on myriad levels, IAPMO is effectively and safely
increasing conservation of water resources. This is another
reason why the IAPMO core competency regarding grey
water is making the biggest impact.
Conservation efforts by IAPMO also include education. A
certification is offered for green plumbers, encouraging
plumbing professionals to learn how to conserve water,
use earth-friendly products, and generally become
more versed in the new and varied techniques that help
preserve our water resource. Advice is also provided
for engineers, designers, and architects hoping to
incorporate environmentally responsible concepts into
their work.
In addition to conservation efforts, IAPMO has taken steps
to make clean water and sanitation more accessible
to the world’s inhabitants. Through a collaboration with
the US Water Partnership, IAPMO and other dedicated
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