On Monday, March 11, 2019, professional plumbers across the land can hold their heads up high, as the world celebrates World Plumbing Day. Initiated by the World Plumbing Council (WPC), of which the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) is a member, World Plumbing Day highlights the global water and sanitation crisis, while also promoting the important role that plumbing plays in the health and safety of modern society.
While in the United Kingdom, there is a feeling among the masses that they are a million miles away from the dangers of severe water shortages and the sanitation crisis seen in the developing world, it’s clear that plumbers still have a vital role to play in keeping the nation safe.
Tackling first world plumbing problems
In many ways, the role of the modern plumber is set to hold even more significance
Longstanding issues, such as hot water scalding, Legionnaires’ disease, water efficiency, lead in water supplies, and pollution caused by plumbing misconnections, are all first world plumbing problems that can be detrimental to the safety, welfare, and health of the public.
In many ways, the role of the modern plumber is set to hold even more significance. With freshwater supplies dwindling, plumbers will be on the front line in safeguarding our most critical of resources.
Recognizing plumbing professionals
However, this all seems to be overlooked. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CIPHE, Kevin Wellman, commented, “Good plumbers really do protect the health and welfare of the nation and it is high time that plumbing professionals got the recognition they deserve. There is no doubt there are unscrupulous tradespeople in the industry, however, the majority are highly skilled and work to an exceptional standard. These are the people the Institute represents.”
The CIPHE is currently engaging with consumers and the Government on issues, including public toilet provision, the rise in scalding and heating system-related contact burn incidents, and the need for regular plumbing system health checks. The Institute is putting particular emphasis on the important role that professional plumbers play.
Importance of maintenance of plumbing systems
Kevin continued, “We cannot ignore that each year many hundreds of people, including the vulnerable are affected by poorly designed, installed and maintained plumbing systems. At the CIPHE, we are currently working in partnership with other leading industry bodies to help raise standards of education and raise concerns direct with the Government on skills, compliance and safety issues.”
He adds, “As an educational charity, we encourage consumers to make the right choices, when it comes to employing a tradesperson. However, we still recognize that in the current climate, more needs to be done to make all plumbing systems safe and sustainable. This is why we continue to back the introduction of a license to practice, which is prevalent in many countries across the globe.”