World Plumbing Day, March4Water, Drive National Focus on Water Safety and Skilled Trades
Key Highlights
- Nationwide proclamations highlight plumbing’s role in public health and infrastructure
- Workforce shortages and aging systems drive demand for skilled contractors
- Water efficiency technologies and training programs support future industry growth
ONTARIO, CA — Communities across the United States joined IAPMO in recognizing March4Water and World Plumbing Day throughout March, with proclamations, policy discussions and industry events highlighting the essential role plumbing systems play in public health, infrastructure resilience and economic growth.
The initiative brought together policymakers, contractors and industry leaders to focus on water efficiency, workforce development and long-term infrastructure investment.
National Recognition Highlights Plumbing’s Role in Public Health
March4Water, anchored by World Plumbing Day on March 11 and World Water Day on March 22, serves as IAPMO’s annual awareness campaign focused on water resilience and system performance.
Across the country, states and municipalities issued proclamations recognizing the importance of safe, reliable plumbing systems and the professionals who design, install and maintain them.
“Across the country, we’ve seen governors, mayors, policymakers, and industry leaders come together to recognize the essential role plumbing systems play in protecting public health,” said Dave Viola, CEO of IAPMO. “These proclamations and events help shine a light on the skilled professionals who design, install, and maintain the systems that deliver safe drinking water and sanitation every day. By raising awareness through March4Water and World Plumbing Day, communities are helping ensure that the importance of this work—and the need for continued investment in water infrastructure and workforce development—remains front and center.”
State and Local Actions Reinforce Industry Priorities
Multiple states and cities formally recognized the initiative, reinforcing key industry priorities around water safety, infrastructure and workforce development.
New Jersey, New Mexico, Hawaii and Wisconsin issued statewide proclamations, while municipalities such as Honolulu and communities across Hawaii highlighted the importance of water stewardship and modern plumbing systems.
In Massachusetts, plumbing professionals met with legislators during a World Plumbing Day advocacy event, focusing on policies tied to water conservation, infrastructure investment and workforce growth.
Workforce Shortages and Aging Infrastructure Remain Key Challenges
Across these discussions, a consistent theme emerged: the need for skilled labor and updated infrastructure.
Many regions highlighted the growing challenge of workforce shortages as experienced professionals retire, alongside the need to modernize aging water systems. For contractors, these trends point to increasing demand for skilled installation, maintenance and system upgrades.
Water Efficiency and Technology Drive Future Solutions
March4Water also emphasized the role of technology in improving system performance and reducing strain on municipal infrastructure.
Solutions such as the Water Demand Calculator, high-efficiency fixtures and onsite water reuse systems can help reduce costs, improve system sizing and support long-term water conservation goals.
These tools are becoming increasingly relevant for contractors working on new construction and retrofit projects, where efficiency and compliance are top priorities.
Training and Certification Support Industry Growth
To support workforce development, IAPMO continues to offer training and certification programs focused on water efficiency, auditing and backflow prevention.
For contractors, access to training and credentials is critical to staying competitive as codes evolve and system complexity increases.
Industry Engagement Builds Awareness and Momentum
Throughout March, IAPMO supported the initiative with events, educational outreach and industry engagement, including World Plumbing Day activities that brought together contractors, policymakers and community leaders.
The campaign also highlighted global efforts led by the World Plumbing Council to promote the importance of plumbing systems in delivering safe water and sanitation worldwide.
To learn more visit iapmo.org.