Industry News

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.”

VTI received $3,000 in tuition donations, as well as product donations to be utilized in its plumbing program, providing students with first-hand experience installing above-floor, macerator and grinder product systems

Saniflo USA announced yearly tuition and product donations to Virginia Technical Institute (VTI). Pledging to donate $3,000 per year in tuition fees, Saniflo said its contributions will cover a semester for two students or two semesters for one student each year.

“Now more than ever, industry manufacturers need to invest in building the skilled-trades workforce — and supporting institutions like Virginia Technical is the key to making that happen,” says Regis Saragosti, CEO of SFA Saniflo North America.

VTI is a non-profit organization located in Altavista, Virginia that provides hands-on training in various fields, including electrical, plumbing, heating and air, welding, pipe-fitting, carpentry, masonry, multi-craft industrial maintenance, and project management. Unique to VTI is the leadership training that further enhances the students’ opportunities in the marketplace.

“Students ranging from high school to adults have the opportunity to fulfill classroom hours in their attempt to gain a journeyman’s license in the fields that require it,” says Brett Hall, Dean of Instruction at VTI. “We use curriculum from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), a standardized training process affiliated with the University of Florida,” he adds. The Institute is also certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

“When it comes to the plumbing realm, Saniflo has been extremely generous to our organization and the relationship is only getting stronger,” says Hall. The two organizations have built a mutually beneficial relationship through the school’s plumbing instructor, Bob Hefner. Hefner visits supply houses across the country to advocate for the school and ultimately crossed paths with Saniflo. Since establishing the connection, Saniflo has conducted numerous macerator and grinder product installation training sessions at VTI’s plumbing school, including training on the installation of HVAC and electrical components.

Product donations will be used in VTI’s plumbing shop and as part of its plumbing program. In 2022, VTI plans to use Saniflo’s Sanibest Pro Grinders and Sanicom 1 drain pumps in a model home created as a practical learning environment for students.

“We converted an old loading dock into a tiny home, and underneath the home, we replicated a crawlspace, allowing us to run piping below the floor,” explains Hall. “This way, students can run piping, check for leaks, etc., making it a “real-world” experience.”

According to Hall, other students in related trades can utilize the tiny home for HVAC, electrical, carpentry, etc. Hall says the plan is to install the donated Saniflo equipment into the tiny home so all trade students can learn how to install it and see how it works.

For more information on Saniflo’s partnership with VTI, visit: https://saniflo.greenhousedigitalpr.com/vti-donations.

For more information on VTI, contact Brett Hall at 434-608-2209. Or visit the website at govti.org.

A part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, RIDGID employs 16 fathers and their children

RIDGID®, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, celebrated Father’s Day by creating a tribute video recognizing how the work fathers do can inspire their children’s career choices. The inspiration behind the video came from RIDGID’s own workforce: currently sixteen RIDGID employees are considered “legacies” – meaning they have dads that worked for the company’s manufacturing team before them. These “RIDGID Dads” and now their children build RIDGID tools in Elyria, OH, that are used by skilled trade professionals across the country, many by family-owned companies that also include fathers and their children.

“When we ask trade professionals how they got into the industry, learning from their fathers is a common response,” said Becky Brotherton, director of engagement marketing, RIDGID for Emerson. “Passing along their skills to the next generation is a legacy that lasts, not only in their children, but also in the infrastructure built and maintained through their challenging careers. Father’s Day seemed like the ideal time to celebrate the legacy that we see regularly on jobsites and in our manufacturing team.”

The video, shared last week on RIDGID social channels and viewed more than 2,000 times, features Russell and Josh Halstead, co-owners of Valu-Rooter® in Elyria, OH, and Jose and Bryan Gonzalez, RIDGID employees.

“I remember him having this determination and hard work to get the job done, but to do it right the first time,” said Josh Halstead, of his dad. “I started working in high school to make some money, but coming out of school I became more interested in this line of work. I wanted to be the best that I could be. I’ve always had the goal of being the best plumber. I want people to hear our name and think of quality.”

“The number of generations, including fathers and their children, working at our company is a unique aspect of our team,” said Danielle Hart, director of human resources, RIDGID for Emerson. “It’s a distinction that we’re proud of and one that we think contributes to a positive work environment.”

View the video on RIDGID social channels, including Instagram – @ridgidtools – and Facebook – @RIDGIDTools.

RIDGID has released Father’s Day videos the last several years, each a tribute to dads in the trades and the influence they have on their children. Previous videos can also be viewed on their YouTube channel.