Water

Washington, D.C. — More than 1.57 million Americans live without a toilet or tap at home, costing the U.S. economy $8.58 billion every year, according to a report produced by DigDeep with contributions from partners including the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®). Titled “Draining: The Economic Impact of America’s Hidden Water Crisis,” Read more

Washington, D.C. — More than 1.57 million Americans live without a toilet or tap at home, costing the U.S. economy $8.58 billion every year, according to a report produced by DigDeep with contributions from partners including the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®).

Titled “Draining: The Economic Impact of America’s Hidden Water Crisis,” the report provides an in-depth analysis of the costs and benefits of extending water and sanitation access to every home in the United States. The $8.58 billion annual figure averages out to $15,800 per household in health care, time spent collecting and paying for bottled water, loss of time at work and school, and premature death. The full report is available online at digdeep.org/draining.

Produced by DigDeep, a nonprofit organization working to improve access to clean running water in U.S. communities, the report includes contributions from partners including Altarum, the American Heart Association, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and IAPMO. It builds on and reinforces key recommendations from DigDeep’s earlier report on the topic: “Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States: A National Action Plan.”

The report attributes the following statistics to the water access gap:

  • $15,800 — the annual cost, per household, to the U.S. economy for each household without access to running water or basic plumbing. It includes health care costs, time spent collecting and paying for bottled water, loss of time at work or school, and premature death.
  • 219,000 — the annual number of waterborne illnesses, including Legionella.
  • 71,000 — the annual number of cases of mental illness
  • 68.7 million — the annual number of work hours lost
  • $1 billion — the annual loss in U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
  • 610 — annual premature deaths
  • $8.58 billion — total annual cost to the U.S. economy

“While speaking to communities for our 2019 report, we heard devastating stories about impacts to people’s health, employment, leisure time, and general well-being,” DigDeep Founder and CEO George McGraw said. “Now we are finally able to measure the true magnitude of those impacts in real dollars. We must close the water access gap. As this report shows, we can’t afford not to.”

While the water access gap is wide and deep, it is solvable — to the benefit of numerous parties even beyond the individuals and families suffering from a lack of access to water and sanitation. With the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts of 2021, $55 billion in water-specific infrastructure funding is available to be spent over the next five years.

Since much of that investment will be used to upgrade and repair existing systems, DigDeep notes that targeted investments are needed for new access and to close the water gap for good.

The report’s authors suggest the following action steps to solve the problem:

  • Expand and refocus federal and state funding. Closing the water access gap requires more funding, more flexibility in funding, and funding for interim solutions and new technologies. These efforts should build on the $55 billion in water-specific funding authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts of 2021.
  • Use data to bring visibility to communities. Currently, no central entity collects data on the scope of the U.S. water access gap. Federal data collection must be accompanied by outreach to vulnerable communities to assist them in using data for advocacy and designing solutions.
  • Define the water access gap as a crisis. Many countries, and the United Nations, have recognized the urgency of water access by passing resolutions recognizing the human right to water and sanitation. The U.S. federal government should signal its leadership on this issue by doing the same.
  • Build a domestic Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) sector. Closing the water access gap will only be possible if led by a dedicated “community of practice” made up of NGOs, funders, research institutions, government agencies, and impacted communities working together toward a shared goal.

“As a technical adviser for this report, IAPMO was pleased to work with the broad coalition of organizations that contributed to this research, and we wholeheartedly endorse these recommendations,” IAPMO Executive Vice President of Government Relations Dain Hansen said. “Access to clean water and safe sanitation is a basic right, and closing the water access gap means advancing equity and righting historical wrongs. IAPMO is proud to be a strong advocate for every community to be able to access the financial and technical resources required to close this water and sanitation access gap.”

Adds Four Hydronic Solutions, Reintroduces Braukmann Product Name to Global Product Offering Resideo Technologies Inc. (NYSE: REZI), a leading global provider of home comfort and security solutions, today announced new hydronic heating components that complement its full water solutions portfolio. Resideo’s world-class hydronic portfolio offers the ultimate in performance, comfort and consistency, and works together seamlessly Read more

Adds Four Hydronic Solutions, Reintroduces Braukmann Product Name to Global Product Offering

Resideo Technologies Inc. (NYSE: REZI), a leading global provider of home comfort and security solutions, today announced new hydronic heating components that complement its full water solutions portfolio. Resideo’s world-class hydronic portfolio offers the ultimate in performance, comfort and consistency, and works together seamlessly to offer an end-to-end hydronic control system.

“Our professional contractors’ time and energy are precious, so we’re looking forward to offering them a complete, easy-to-install hydronics system from Resideo that is engineered for accuracy, safety and reliability,” said Matthew Robbins, vice president global product management, Comfort & Care. “Our new hydronics solutions are our first Resideo-branded offerings and serve as a true example of what our professionals can expect from Resideo’s behind-the-wall solutions: quality solutions that help save our professionals time, money, labor, and parts.”

Resideo Hydraulic Separator

Resideo’s new hydronic solutions include:

  • AquaPUMP Variable Speed Circulating Pumps are offered in both cast iron and stainless-steel models for closed- and open-looped applications. Available in five different modes of operation, the pumps provide versatility to cover the performance of fixed- and variable-speed circulators and utilize pressure responsive control. These quiet and energy-efficient pumps are backed by a five-year warranty.
  • Magnetic Hydraulic Separators regulate pressure, reduce flow velocity, minimize audible noises with air elimination and protect the boiler system from ferrous sediment with a standardized magnet. Magnetic Hydraulic Separators are ideal for greater boiler efficiency and protection in various applications from residential homes to multi-family housing. Hydraulic Separator bodies are offered with union connections from one-to two-inch for sweat, threaded, or press fitting. Flanged bodies are available with connections from two to six inches.
  • Press PV SuperVent® Air Eliminators easily vent out the air in hydronic systems with the most secure connection offered in the industry. SuperVent® Air Eliminators have debris baffles to control dirt fouling and to prevent failing. The adjustable collar ring allows for easy installation and application flexibility.
  • Press Boiler Trim Kits offer a high-quality Press PV SuperVent® Air Eliminator, Press NK300 boiler feed combination and expansion tank with service check valve all in one box. Best-in-class fittings make for a simple, seamless and high-quality installation.

The newly expanded hydronic portfolio is now available in the U.S. and Canada through Resideo’s distribution network.

Resideo Braukmann

Resideo is reintroducing the Braukmann product name to its global potable water products, such as pressure reducing valves and mixing valves. The changes reflect the company’s ongoing opportunity to build and strengthen the Resideo brand and product portfolio.

“Our European and North American customers have known and trusted the Braukmann name for more than 40 years, and we’re honored to bring back the well-known potable water product family,” said Lisa Goldson Armstrong, vice president of global marketing at Resideo. “Reintroducing the Braukmann name acknowledges our proud heritage and gives us an opportunity to take another step in our Resideo brand journey.”

The company acquired Braukmann in 1980 from its founder, and with more than 75 years of experience in the European residential water control market it’s become well-known for demonstrating proven reliability. The water products can be found in more than 18 million households and are trusted by more than 100,000 installers.

Resideo Braukmann solutions are available globally through Resideo’s distribution network.

Attendees Eligible for 0.1 CEUs through ASPE Watts has announced the next installment in a series of webinars for their engineer, architect, designer, and facility manager customers. The webinar, Ultra-Hygienic Drainage Solutions,will be broadcast live on Thursday, September 26, 2019. This latest webinar will focus on why the factory floor poses the toughest sanitation challenges for Read more

Attendees Eligible for 0.1 CEUs through ASPE

Watts has announced the next installment in a series of webinars for their engineer, architect, designer, and facility manager customers. The webinar, Ultra-Hygienic Drainage Solutions,will be broadcast live on Thursday, September 26, 2019.

This latest webinar will focus on why the factory floor poses the toughest sanitation challenges for food processing and beverage plants.

Key takeaways will includehow a hygienically designed, efficient drainage system:

  • Minimizes the risk of bacterial contamination & costly production stoppages
  • Can lead to increased operational efficiency & long-term cost savings

By attending the entire webinar, attendees can receive 0.1 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE).

To register for this webinar, please visit this page.

A new report from the Brookings Institution provides a detailed and data-driven look at careers in the water sector, finding that while there are looming shortages and a need for diversity in the workforce, water jobs are a tremendous economic opportunity for the American worker. The Water Environment Federation encourages its members to closely review Renewing Read more

A new report from the Brookings Institution provides a detailed and data-driven look at careers in the water sector, finding that while there are looming shortages and a need for diversity in the workforce, water jobs are a tremendous economic opportunity for the American worker.

The Water Environment Federation encourages its members to closely review Renewing the Water Workforce: Improving water infrastructure and creating a pipeline to opportunity, which was released June 14.

“The report reveals the sizable economic opportunity offered by water jobs, including the variety of occupations found across the country, the equitable wages paid, the lower educational barriers to entry, and the need for more diverse, young talent,” write authors Joe Kane and Adie Tomer of the Brookings Institution.

Kane and Tomer examined occupational employment data and made several key findings:

  • In 2016, nearly 1.7 million workers were directly involved in designing, constructing, operating, and governing U.S. water infrastructure, spanning a variety of industries and regions.
  • Water occupations not only tend to pay more on average compared to all occupations nationally, but also pay up to 50 percent more to workers at lower ends of the income scale.
  • Most water workers have less formal education, including 53 percent having a high school diploma or less. Instead, they require more extensive on-the-job training and familiarity with a variety of tools and technologies.
  • Water workers tend to be older and lack gender and racial diversity in certain occupations; in 2016, nearly 85 percent of them were male and two-thirds were white, pointing to a need for younger, more diverse talent.

“While the Water Environment Federation and our colleagues across the water sector have long been aware of the challenges and opportunities of our workforce, we are grateful that the Brookings Institution produced this timely, detailed report that contains fresh data,” said Eileen O’Neill, WEF Executive Director. “It is imperative on all of us to examine the findings and accelerate our efforts to ensure a sustainable and talented water workforce.”

This spring WEF nationally launched a jobs program that provides training and certification in the field of green infrastructure. The National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) establishes national requirements for working on green infrastructure projects, promotes a skilled green workforce, streamlines the process of connecting qualified talent to in-demand jobs, and supports community-based job creation in U.S. cities. NGICP is working with local organizations to expand the program nationally, including partnering with community colleges and STEM high schools to incorporate the curriculum into educational institutions and member associations to engage existing infrastructure workers. NGICP is also partnering with workforce development organizations to engage many of the chronically un- and under-employed in urban areas across the country.

WEF also maintains the Job Bank, continually updated site with new employment listings for careers in wastewater, including water and wastewater management, operations, consulting engineering, and other career paths in water quality. Visit the Job Bank.

To read the Brookings report visit: https://brook.gs/2HCBFdj

Watts has upgraded its commercial product offering with a new line of pre-plumbed, skid mounted softening systems. These pre-engineered systems come equipped with both Fleck 2900 and 3900 control valves for peak flow rates of up to 420 and 1,120 GPM, respectively. They are available in twin-alternating or 2-4 tank parallel designs. Each system includes Read more

Watts has upgraded its commercial product offering with a new line of pre-plumbed, skid mounted softening systems.

These pre-engineered systems come equipped with both Fleck 2900 and 3900 control valves for peak flow rates of up to 420 and 1,120 GPM, respectively. They are available in twin-alternating or 2-4 tank parallel designs. Each system includes schedule 80 PVC inlet, outlet and drain headers as well as powder-coated steel skids and no-hard water bypass pistons.

In addition, each mineral tank is accompanied by a dedicated brine tank for model TI, TR, and QD systems. This product line features inlet and outlet headers up to 6- inch in diameter for high flow rate, high volume applications.

Watts’ pre-plumbed and skid mounted water softeners are assembled in the U.S.A. and can be implemented with various Watts water quality products for complete water quality solutions.

Watts WQ-Softeners