Fourteenth HometownH2O project furthers awareness of rural water access challenges The Dittman family of Parker, Pennsylvania, has received a new water well system yesterday that will provide dependable water access on their property, something the family has been living without. This installation was made possible through a collaborative effort between Xylem Inc., Water Well Trust Read more
clean water
Fourteenth HometownH2O project furthers awareness of rural water access challenges
The Dittman family of Parker, Pennsylvania, has received a new water well system yesterday that will provide dependable water access on their property, something the family has been living without. This installation was made possible through a collaborative effort between Xylem Inc., Water Well Trust (WWT) and Waterboys, a charity founded by former NFL player Chris Long. The donation covered all aspects of the project, including necessary equipment, drilling and installation, as well as completion of a home improvement project. Local partners Aquaflow Pump Supply and Flick Drilling played a crucial role in the installation, while The Vinyl Institute provided piping material.
The Dittman family of Parker, Pennsylvania.
Amanda and Samuel Dittman live with their two children in a farmhouse built by Amanda’s great-great-grandfather in 1903. The home, which has been passed down through generations, drew water from a natural spring on the property. Over the years, the family has experienced a continuous decline in their water supply. The spring does not consistently produce water, and provides no water during the dry season, leaving the family without access to a dependable water source. As a result, the Dittmans have relied on family and neighbors to help them haul water daily from town – a 40-minute round-trip drive – and add it to their holding tank. Despite implementing water conservation practices, the family continued to struggle with basic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, showering, doing laundry and tending to their garden.
“I am proud of the history of this house, but it does come with some challenges. There have been a lot of times we’ve thought about moving, even though it wouldn’t allow us to live how we want to,” said Water Well Trust beneficiary Amanda Dittman. “My neighbor always checks on us in the summer to ask if we need water or to use her laundry. It’s a relief to tell her that we finally have water, and she doesn’t have to worry about us anymore. It’s a huge weight off our shoulders.”
This donation marks the 14th collaborative project for Xylem, WWT and HometownH2O – a domestic water initiative dedicated to bringing clean, sustainable water to people and communities in need across the United States. Launched in early 2020, HometownH2O is a united effort between Long, his Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and Xylem to address water scarcity issues, which currently leave more than 2 million Americans without access to clean water. HometownH2O works alongside WWT, a national nonprofit that helps fund and supply water to low-income families.
“HometownH2O is working to tackle the water crisis here at home. Many people in the United States take safe drinking water for granted, but no matter your zip code, everyone deserves access to dependable water,” said Long, two time Super Bowl champion and founder of the Chris Long Foundation. “Our mission with each well installation we complete is to continue to spread awareness and through collaborative solutions, bring water access to those who need it most. Xylem and Water Well Trust are indispensable partners in this effort.”
“Our partnership with the Chris Long Foundation and the Water Well Trust through the HometownH2O program allows us to continue to address domestic water scarcity issues that impact countless families across the United States,” said Susan O’Grady, senior director of marketing, building services and agriculture, Xylem. “We are proud to be part of the solution to ensure that residents in rural communities, like Parker Pennsylvania, can enjoy the essential resource of clean, safe water.”
Xylem, in conjunction with its Goulds Water Technology brand, is engaged in regular water well initiatives to provide secure water access to rural areas, striving to increase public awareness of the challenges surrounding lack of water access. For more information about the HometownH2O project, visit waterboys.org/hometown.
Top water heating manufacturer and non-profit service organization continue mission to support plumbers around the world and ensure access to safe water supplies Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage products, announces a continued partnership with Plumbers Without Borders, a grassroots non-profit organization working to increase global access to safe water Read more
Top water heating manufacturer and non-profit service organization continue mission to support plumbers around the world and ensure access to safe water supplies
Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage products, announces a continued partnership with Plumbers Without Borders, a grassroots non-profit organization working to increase global access to safe water and sanitation.
The partnership re-affirms Bradford White’s commitment to advance the plumbing and HVAC industries through strategic partnerships and programs and supports Plumbers Without Borders’ ongoing contributions to professional training, promoting careers in the trades and maintaining the industry’s commitment to the highest standards of quality for products and services.
“Plumbers Without Borders is focused on improving lives and shares our deep commitment to elevate the work of industry professionals and the essential role they have in supporting the health, safety and sanitation in communities.” said Rebecca Owens, senior manager of communications for Bradford White. “Through our charitable giving program Industry Forward™, our company is dedicated to providing the tools and resources needed to make a positive impact in communities where we live and work. We are proud to continue our relationship with Plumbers Without Borders and increase their capacity to support individuals and families around the globe.”
Plumbers Without Borders was founded in 2010. The organization connects volunteer plumbers and other skilled tradespeople with projects around the world that are establishing safe plumbing and sanitary systems and promoting related health and safety education. Plumbers Without Borders selects partners based on quality, service, craftsmanship and training.
“We are proud and humbled to have Bradford White Corporation’s continuing support. By creating and investing in their “Industry Forward” program, Bradford White leads the way in exemplifying our industry’s most important goals and initiatives that will help shift the global equation towards improving lives, everywhere.” said Domenico DiGregorio, president and co-founder of Plumbers Without Borders.
For more information about Bradford White, visit https://www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com.
Washington, D.C. — The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) strongly supports The Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, or The Healthy H2O Act, which would provide grants for water testing and treatment technology directly to individuals, nonprofits and local governments in rural communities. Introduced by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), The Healthy H2O Act would Read more
Washington, D.C. — The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) strongly supports The Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, or The Healthy H2O Act, which would provide grants for water testing and treatment technology directly to individuals, nonprofits and local governments in rural communities.
Introduced by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), The Healthy H2O Act would provide grants for water quality testing and the purchase and installation of point-of-use or point-of-entry water quality improvement systems that remove or significantly reduce contaminants from drinking water. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would provide the grants directly to individuals and nonprofits or local governments to help people go through the process of water testing and then finding and installing a water treatment product to address their situation.
Communities across the United States face threats to their drinking water from a number of contaminants, including lead, arsenic, nitrates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PFOA, PFOS, hexavalent chromium-6, and others. While public water systems monitor for these threats and treat water before it is distributed to points of use, nearly 43 million households primarily in rural communities rely exclusively on groundwater delivered through private wells for their drinking water. This water is not subject to the same regular oversight and testing for contamination, which can delay identification of and response to health threats. The Healthy H2O Act would provide grants for rural communities to increase access to the many technologies for testing and water treatment at the point of use.
Every Wisconsin community deserves access to clean drinking water and an environment free of toxic chemicals. Across our state, communities are struggling to identify and treat known and emerging chemicals that endanger our health, especially for children,” Baldwin said. “My legislation will cut costs and expand access to water testing and treatment for families in rural communities so that when we turn on the faucet, we can be confident our drinking water is safe.”
Through its Community Plumbing Challenges (CPC), IAPMO’s nonprofit organization, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), collaborates with local governments, nonprofit organizations and volunteer tradespeople to identify and address water and sanitation-related issues in rural areas where access to clean, safe water and sanitation is limited or compromised. Baldwin invited IAPMO Director of Workforce Training and Development/IWSH North America Project Manager Randy Lorge, who has been integral to the success of CPCs in South Africa, Indonesia, and the United States, to be her virtual guest for President Biden’s State of the Union address March 2.
“IAPMO believes that everyone should have access to clean water and sanitation. This is why we support the introduction of The Healthy H2O Act and applaud Senator Baldwin for her leadership on this issue,” said Dain Hansen, IAPMO’s executive vice president of Government Relations. “IAPMO has long championed solutions around the globe that lead to lasting quality water and sanitation services. Today, many communities across the United States face challenges with their drinking water — an issue that is only compounded in underserved neighborhoods. Water filtration technologies play an important role meeting those challenges immediately. We recognize this as an essential piece of legislation that helps our country take a critical step in closing the clean drinking water access gap in the U.S.”
The Healthy H2O Act is also supported by The Water Quality Association (WQA), The National Ground Water Association (NGWA), The Water Council, NSF International, American Supply Association (ASA), Water Systems Council, Water Well Trust, and The Groundwater Foundation.