Initiated by the World Plumbing Council, World Plumbing Day is an international event observed every March 11 that celebrates the important role plumbing plays in the health and safety of modern society. We know that negative connotations are sometimes attached to plumbers and plumbing, so we wanted to engage the public in changing people's perception of them and have a little fun.
Natural disasters such as the typhoon in the Philippines and the devastating earthquake in Haiti reveal how easy it is to take for granted the availability of safe drinking water and sufficient sanitation systems — until those systems cease to function properly.
An ardent supporter of World Plumbing Day since the World Plumbing Council introduced it in 2010, IAPMO is administering a video and photo contest for anyone interested in conceptualizing his or her original interpretation on the theme "The Story of Plumbing." All participants will be entered into a drawing to win a $1,000 prize. IAPMO has posted its interpretation above and on YouTube® to offer an idea. Art students, engineers, homeowners – or anyone – is encouraged to express his or her creative point of view visually. The images and video may be submitted via YouTube®, the Vine®, Hightail (formerly YouSendIt)® or directly to worldplumbingday@iapmo.org, and may be posted to IAPMO's Flickr® or Facebook® sites. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win the contest.
The social media experience is an effective way to simultaneously enlighten, educate and entertain. Video and photographs of the story of plumbing will help bring a better understanding of the largely misunderstood role plumbers play in keeping folks safe and healthy each and every day.
The safety and abundance of drinking water is, of course, a concern for most people all over the world, but what is not often emphasized is the work the plumbing industry contributes every day to alleviate these concerns.
We look forward to seeing your participation in this worthwhile event. For more information, please direct your Web browser to www.worldplumbingday.org.
