FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY — Today, on World Plumbing Day, the German-based Valve Manufacturers Association (VDMA Valves, representing more than 3,000 companies in the mechanical and plant engineering industry), released a statement on the importance of the plumbing industry and crafts (sanitary, heating, air conditioning) for protecting public health and improving the quality of life around the world.
"Experts from the plumbing industry around the world ensure that water is distributed properly, and that drinking water hygiene is impeccable. This extremely important activity for the benefit of public health deserves special recognition," emphasizes Wolfgang Burchard, Managing Director of VDMA Valves.
In Germany, fresh, hygienic water and functioning sanitary installations are a matter of course. House and apartment owners leave this issue to the plumbers, with whom it is in good hands. In addition to craftsmanship, the quality of the fittings is also of great importance. Under the slogan "Brand is more", VDMA Valves is drawing attention to the advantages of brand fittings from domestic production. "It is only through the successful interaction of industry, trade and crafts that clean water is available in this country at all times," says Burchard.
The industry is constantly facing new challenges. The coronavirus, for example, not only paralyzed everyday life. Drinking water was also far less in motion than usual. With many facilities closed or offices only partially occupied, there is hardly any water flowing in the pipes. But when water stagnates, biofilms can form, providing a potential nutrient for health-threatening germs and bacteria.
To prevent this, a key principle of hygiene must be adhered to even in buildings that are hardly used: Water must flow. In this context, app-controlled hygiene systems allow drinking water installations to be flushed regularly or even spontaneously to prevent the formation of germs and bacteria. Flushing with hot water is also made possible in this way. These measures are particularly effective in combating the risk of Legionella bacteria, which prefer to multiply in water at 25 to 55 degrees Celsius (77 to 131 degrees F).
The enormous value offered by the plumbing industry becomes clear when one looks at the situation in developing countries: millions of people drink contaminated water or wash themselves with it. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have safe access to clean drinking water.
To find out how your business or organization can get involved, visit the World Plumbing Council's World Plumbing Day page at https://www.worldplumbing.org/worldplumbingday/.