By Tanya Olckers
World Plumbing Day’s theme for 2025 is ‘Plumbing is More’.
Plumbing is more than fixing a broken toilet or installing a new kitchen. Plumbing is more than digging trenches or designing a backup water system. It’s an industry that has a much larger impact than most people realise. It is more than the guy you phone when there is a leak on your property. Plumbing is the beginning of health and wellbeing for communities and societies.
The consequences of inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene are dire. These things, which we may take for granted, and which we may consider simple in the grand scheme of things, could lead to sickness and even death when neglected. Yes, focus should be on medical and healthcare in all countries on the African continent, however it’s important to remember that good health begins with good sanitation, and access to clean water.
This is the job of the plumber.
Diseases (like cholera and typhoid) and diseases caused by parasites, can be reduced through access to sanitation and clean water for drinking and washing. This alone could result in improved community health.
Without the plumber to supply that clean water and to provide the infrastructure needed for proper sanitation, we might as well be living in the Middle Ages. The reality is that there are communities in South Africa and on the continent that don’t have this access to clean water and sanitation, and this contributes to poor health among these communities.
According to the United Nations, safe drinking water and sanitation are basic human rights. In spite of that, however, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are still 2.2 billion people on the planet who do not have safely managed water services, 4.2 billion people don’t have safely managed water treatment systems and 3 billion people don’t have adequate, basic handwashing facilities.
What this means is that one in three people globally do not have access to safe drinking water. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report (2024): Water for Peace and Prosperity, “when water is scarce, polluted or difficult to access, food security can be undermined, livelihoods lost, and conflict can follow.”
That’s a rather large burden for any plumber to carry. However, in some way – whether directly or indirectly – the plumber is part of the solution.
The UN report illustrates that lower income countries, like those found in Asia and Africa, have poor wastewater treatment. Higher income countries must contend with issues related to agricultural water runoff.
World Plumbing Day was first established in 2010 by the World Plumbing Council and the WHO. The aim behind the creation of this day was to educate communities globally about the importance of access to safe, clean water and the importance of proper sanitation, as well as to honour the role our plumbers play in bringing this to their communities.
With this year’s theme of ‘Plumbing is More’, the World Plumbing Council wants to highlight that plumbing encompasses so many areas: the greater health of society, new technologies and innovation, education and training of plumbers, even a better future for impoverished communities that can access the water that they so desperately need.
More impact
Plumbing creates jobs. These jobs in turn drive innovation in water conservation and the resilience of a community. Professional plumbing infrastructure brings a clear improvement to health, reduced water waste and economic development. These all have a direct and clear impact on the communities that plumbers serve.
Sustainability is part of the conversation around water and conservation. The plumbing industry designs, implements and maintains systems that conserve water, reduce energy use and protect environmental resources. Innovations also mean that there are solutions for countries that are water scarce – like South Africa. This would include things like greywater systems, rainwater harvesting and smart water management. Keeping abreast of the trends and developments adds to the plumber’s skill set.
There’s system design, installation, maintenance and even sustainability consulting. The options are massive and provide excellent opportunities for South Africa’s unemployed youth to walk into the workplace with strong, necessary and marketable skills. Moreover, already qualified plumbers need to keep upskilling, keep learning and developing and helping their staff to do the same. Plumbing offers a variety of well-paying career paths, including system design, installation and maintenance, sustainability consulting, communications and business ownership.
Problem solving: Plumbing enhances the future
Plumbing has a focus on creating a greener future through offering solutions to water reuse, energy recover and carbon reduction. These complex challenges are faced by the entire planet. Plumbers integrate sustainable technologies that reduce environmental impact while maintaining performance. Things like smart plumbing systems could help to reduce carbon footprint through water conservation. Improving water quality is also part of the scope of the plumber.
Many of South Africa’s communities still face challenges with clean water and sanitation. These vital aspects of living provide prevention of disease and help maintain hygiene. Communities with properly designed infrastructure can withstand and recover from natural disasters and disease outbreaks. Even though they may not be seen this way by the public, plumbers are part of emergency response who are called out when disaster strikes.
Even though access to clean water and sanitation is a basic human right, we have communities in our own country that still don’t have such access. Plumbing helps to bridge the gap when it comes to these communities. This ultimately has an impact on improving public health which affects all people, whether rural or urban. A safe, reliable water supply is imperative for health, dignity and quality of life.
Plumbers are integral to the health and well-being of any community or society. The very health of a country’s citizens depends on the health of their water and sanitation. Plumbers are the champions, in effect, of a basic human right to clean drinking water. Whether you are a plumber, manufacturer, supplier or wet services engineer, this is the legacy you carry.
