Plumbing Africa November 2016 | Page 3

WPC – as it happened

By Fiona Ingham

Fitting thought

1

Plumbing Africa

After months of planning and anticipation , the World Plumbing Conference 2016 has come and gone . It was the first time in the conference ’ s history that plenary and breakaway sessions were held side by side . The exhibition was well attended by manufacturers , suppliers and visitors alike . Events were supported by skills simulation and a Community Plumbing Challenge showcase , which made for a full programme . Cape Town based plumber Richard Bailie attended the event and encapsulated the experience so well : all of us were there because of the plumbers . From the large plumber who lands projects the size of the Hilton Hotel to the small-scale maintenance plumber , the reason for people travelling from across the world to attend the conference was to uphold the role of the trade and to support the tradesperson as the protector of the health of nations . Read Bailie ’ s contribution on page 25 . One of the first speakers also made the point that it is time to get noticed as an industry .

Surprising ideas and thinking were revealed in the sessions . One of these was how each innovation affects the existing system ; for example , lowflow toilets and waterless urinals are creating other unintended problems with bulk waste infrastructure not having been designed for low flow and concentrated sludge . Drought relief and developing water infrastructure have also created unintended social impacts . We learned that leaky pipes in big-city municipal water systems are universal problems , with one speaker revealing that the amount of water lost by leaky bulk water infrastructure might be as high in the US as it is in South Africa .

In his closing remarks , water industry stalwart Mike Muller likened the plumbing and water fraternity ’ s mammoth task in providing everyone with safe , clean water to eating an elephant , and explains how eating it one bite at a time is not the way to do it . Read his column on page 65 .

Speakers from the City of Cape Town presented on best practice and on the work being done on the part of the city , which is a true pocket of excellence . In his keynote address , the incoming World Plumbing Council chair , Shayne La Combre , presented the worrying water demand and supply gap as it stands globally . He also discussed the positives : technological advances in rainfall harvesting , capture and storage ; water waste reduction ; as well as advances in water recycling , desalination and purification , which all mean we are better equipped to fight water scarcity than ever before . It is time to see effective standards and regulations developed that support and protect the consumers we all strive to serve , La Combre said . As he reminded us , all protocol has been observed — it is time to act . His address will be published in subsequent editions of Plumbing Africa .

Undeniably , it is time for government to take programmes such as the Community Plumbing Challenge and support them in other areas . It is time for government to partner with industry to help create channels of communication for this important work to be done . It ’ s time indeed . Enjoy the issue . PA fiona

Fiona Ingham

ISSN 1812 - 1705

Audit Bureau of Circulations

April – June 2016 Controlled Free Distribution 3113

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November 2016 Volume 22 I Number 9