For the third consecutive year, in April 2024, IWSH returned to the heart of Lowndes County, Alabama, for an IWSH Community Plumbing Challenge to drive change in a region that has suffered from inadequate sanitation for decades.
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The focus of the IWSH Community Plumbing Challenge has expanded to provide further training and empowerment alongside indoor plumbing retrofits. Working with the Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program (BBUWP), the organisation equipped local high school students with the skills needed to conduct the IWSH Household Plumbing Survey. This easy tool identifies where skilled plumbers need to make repairs and update fittings, fixtures, and appliances.
In the space of over a week, these students worked alongside licensed plumbers, who applied the survey and then conducted basic repairs. The students gained exposure to the power of a career in plumbing, and established the foundation for a brighter, healthier future for their community.
The project was more than technical work. It also worked towards building relationships and community. The group discussed the potential for a formal plumbing programme at the Lowndes County Career Center, akin to their successful welding course.
There are plans to further refine the training program, incorporating the plumbing curriculum IWSH developed for Navajo Technical University to continue the vital work of improving wastewater management in Lowndes County, AL, USA.
