Global Impact

From taking a shower to boiling water to drinking a glass of tap water, plumbing has become part of our everyday lives. But have you ever considered what life would be like without these basic amenities?

Crazy as it sounds, as many as six in 10 people worldwide don’t have toilets in their homes! And 900 million school children across the globe don’t have access to handwashing facilities, which leads to the spread of germs and deadly diseases.

However, the plumbing industry as a whole has been working to resolve these major issues and help everyone gain access to safe water. For example, between 2000 and 2015, 1 billion people gained access to piped water supplies, and the number of people who used sanitation services increased to 39% in 2015. Though we still have a long way to go, every little bit helps, and we are proud to be part of an industry that is committed to having a positive global impact!

Environment

With technological advancements being made every day, it’s no surprise that the plumbing industry has been evolving as well. A primary goal is to detect leaks as soon as they occur and prevent water waste; up to 30% of water is wasted because of broken pipes. New leak detection methods such as Brain Pipes, the Smart Shower, and echologics all play a crucial role in the advancement of resource-saving technology.

Something you can do to reduce water waste is schedule maintenance to ensure your system is efficient and hasn’t sprung any minor leaks that could lead to a major problem down the road. Show the planet some love and consider what you can do to make your plumbing system as efficient as possible!

Health

Even in the U.S. health issues involving water quality are of major concern. Take the Flint, MI water crisis for example. In 2013 municipal officials decided to save money by switching their water source so it would come to the area’s residents directly from the Flint River. Unfortunately, the river water was heavily contaminated and a major health epidemic arose; many area children were affected by the drinking water’s soaring lead levels, along with other bacteria and toxins.

The Flint water crisis garnered extensive media coverage, and many people will remember it as one of the worst water-quality-related disasters in U.S. history. But what about the rest of the world? What happened in Flint is an anomaly for a highly developed country, but regular outbreaks plague the developing world due to low sanitation standards and lack of plumbing.

In fact, 892 million people still practice open defecation, which results in extremely contaminated water sources. Due to this practice near rivers, approximately 361,000 children under the age of 5 die each year due to waterborne diseases. Happily, advancements in modern plumbing have reduced the number of people practicing open defecation from 1.2 billion to the current number of 892 million. As the plumbing industry continues to advance, these numbers will continue to decline.

By raising awareness of the significant impact the plumbing industry has on a global scale, we can help save lives and our precious planet. To learn more about the positive impacts of modern plumbing, or to schedule plumbing services for your Red Oak area home, give us a call at (773)-724-9272!