Recognize Your Employees, Suppliers and Customers on World Plumbing Day
World Plumbing Day is celebrated every year on March 11. This is a day we ask our members to take the time and recognize the critical role their company, employees and the entire plumbing supply chain serves in protecting public health, safety, and the environment. We should never forget the impact we have on our society and never miss an opportunity to give ourselves a pat on the back.
The Centers for Disease Control calls the shift from inadequate water supplies to clean drinking water one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century because of its fundamental impact on the spread of communicable disease. Before public water and sanitation existed, there were repeated outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, influenza, yellow fever, and other diseases; In the early 19th century, 100,000 people died each year in the U.S. from diarrhea-enteritis and dysentery, and 23,000 from typhoid. These threats are largely nonexistent today, due to the public health focus on plumbing and vigilance of our industry.
In addition to protecting public health the industry has been at the forefront of protecting the environment through the safe disposal and treatment of wastewater and taking the lead role in creating, distributing, and installing water efficient plumbing products. According to the U.S. EPA, consumers have saved more than 6.4 trillion gallons of water and $135 billion in water and energy expenses since 2006 due to efforts of our industry in providing water efficient products.
Here are some ideas on how you can celebrate our achievements as an industry on World Plumbing Day:
World Plumbing Day Poster Contest
Over the last two years, ASA has offered to our member company employees’ children and their customers’ children, the opportunity to participate in the ASA World Plumbing Day Poster Contest. The contest has been increasing in popularity with more than 60 posters submitted in 2023. The contest is designed for children in first through sixth grades. Monetary awards will be given to the top three winners in both the first through third grade and the fourth through sixth grade, with the winners’ schools receiving the same monetary award as received by the child.
In addition, all posters submitted are entered in the International World Plumbing Day Poster Contest sponsored by the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation. Last year, one of the ASA poster submittals received second-place honors in the global competition.
You can get creative in how you promote this program in your company:
- Some members promote the contest throughout the company and provide fliers to their customers encouraging them to have their employees' children also participate. ASA will be sending our members a PDF version of the flier for distribution soon.
- Last year, the spouse of an ASA member employee who taught fifth grade encouraged her pupils to participate. One of the students won first-place honors and Katie Poehling Seymour, president and CEO of First Supply and this year’s ASA Chairwoman, visited the school to present the checks to both the student and the school.
- Another example is when one of our member companies offered their own monetary awards and recognition for the children who submitted posters to ASA as representatives of the member company.
The poster contest provides a great opportunity to start reaching out to the younger generation and making them aware of career opportunities in the plumbing supply chain.
Special Events to Recognize WPD
ASA member companies found several ways to celebrate World Plumbing Day. One example was a company held a special event on March 11 inviting suppliers to their facilities to network with their customers. This was a great opportunity for contractors to interact with suppliers and offered the opportunity to recognize and thank their suppliers, employees, and contractors for all they do. Another example of celebration was holding a parking lot barbecue with employees and customers.
Posting on Social Media Platforms to Promote WPD
A simple but effective way to recognize World Plumbing Day is to post on your various social media platforms thanking your suppliers, employees, and customers for all they do. ASA will be creating social media graphic templates for ASA member use.
The PHCC supply chain is a critical part of our society, and it is important for us to periodically take the time to recognize these important contributions and the impacts we deliver in public health, safety, protection of the environment and supporting economic growth. Please be sure to celebrate World Plumbing Day along with all of us at ASA.
This year I am pleased to note that we have an ASA Supplier Partner sponsor for ASA World Pluming Day initiatives. This year’s sponsor is ASA Platinum Supplier Partner InSinkErator and we appreciate their support of ASA and the PHCP-PVF industry.
More details will be announced in the coming days. For more information on the World Plumbing Day Poster contest or how your company might get involved please contact me directly at jkendzel@asa.net.
Jim Kendzel
ASA Director of Codes and Standards
