Washington, D.C.—Today, on March 11, the world celebrates plumbers. In recognition of World Plumbing Day, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) announces a new partnership with Uponor North America that will “help address critical water and sanitation inequities in the United States.”
More than two million Americans live without running water and basic indoor plumbing, reports IWSH. “We are facing a watershed moment in the United States,” said Seán Kearney, IWSH managing director. “There is growing recognition of the negative public health and economic impacts experienced by communities who have long been neglected or denied basic water and sanitation services.”
Through this new partnership, Uponor plans to contribute to IWSH’s initiatives that address critical water issues faced by marginalized communities in the U.S. This includes the deployment of hand-washing stations in indigenous communities, the installation of innovative decentralized waste systems in Alabama, and providing solutions to water-quality issues in communities in Texas.
“When it comes to drinking water, too many people in our country have been left behind,” said Bill Gray, president of Uponor North America. “Our partnership with IWSH highlights the valuable role that skilled plumbing tradespeople and quality products play in delivering life-changing water and sanitation solutions that last. We look forward to being part of rebuilding confidence in these communities and helping to shape their futures positively.”
Uponor plans to support IWSH in 2021 will both monetary and in-kind contributions toward IWSH’s initiatives. This partnership originated via the Radiant Professionals Alliance—an international trade association dedicated to increasing the use of radiant heating and cooling.