Washington, D.C. — To highlight the myriad ways the plumbing industry creates positive change in a water-stressed world, IAPMO® was thrilled to further its March4Water initiatives around World Water Day by participating in and hosting numerous events on Capitol Hill this week.
A busy week culminated with a World Water Day celebration event marking the 10-year anniversary of The Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act, hosted by IAPMO, the Millennium Water Alliance and WaterAid US at the Cannon House Office Building. A capacity crowd gathered with federal administration leaders and elected officials to recognize the progress — and work still to be done — in accelerating access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for millions in the United States and around the world.
Moderated by Laura E. Kohler, chief sustainable living officer for Kohler Co., speakers included: Administrator Samantha Power, United States Agency for International Development; Acting Assistant Administrator Bruno Pigott, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), majority whip, United States Senate; Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.); Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.); Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY); Mrs. Patti Simon; and Josh Norman, All-Pro NFL cornerback and founding board member of Football for Peace USA.
The event was sponsored by Chemonics, Ferguson, Kohler, LIXIL, P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water, Food for the Hungry, Football for Peace, Global Health Council, InterAction, Save the Children, Tetra Tech, TOTO, UNICEF USA, and World Vision.
“IAPMO was proud to join other industry stakeholders in such an incredible and meaningful dialogue around World Water Day,” said Christopher Lindsay, IAPMO vice president of Government Relations. “It illustrated the vital importance our industry will play in ensuring everyone has sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation. We are committed to continue being a leader in bringing about this transformative change.”
Earlier Thursday, IAPMO partnered on an event on the National Mall led by Football for Peace titled “Leveraging Water for Peace.” Drawing high-level dignitaries and professional football and soccer players, it featured youth clinics, keynote speeches, and a symbolic wall kickoff. Erin McCusker, senior vice president, leader, SATO and LIXIL Public Partners, spoke at the event. McCusker leads LIXIL’s SATO program, which provides innovative and affordable sanitation products for underserved communities.
IAPMO Government Relations previously led an industry lobbying day at the New Jersey Statehouse on Monday and will continue its advocacy next week with events and meetings with legislators in Massachusetts.
More than 2 billion people worldwide — including more than 2 million Americans — live without access to running water, basic indoor plumbing, or proper sanitation. IAPMO is determined to close the world’s water gap.
ABOUT WORLD WATER DAY
World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance, started in 1993, that celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people currently living without access to safe water. A core focus of World Water Day is to inspire action towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
