World Water Day is an annual international event commemorated on March 22 to raise awareness of the importance of water and how it affects our daily lives. World Water Day 2023 marks the extension of Ferguson’s community partnership with The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). Through Ferguson’s support of IAPMO’s Innovation Fund, and their charitable arm, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), the organizations are urging people to think more carefully about their interactions with water throughout their day to appreciate its value better. 

It is estimated that the average person uses about 80-100 gallons (about half the volume of a large refrigerator) of water every day for basic needs such as drinking, cooking, washing dishes, laundry, bathing, and watering plants — to name a few activities. It’s easy to take for granted how much we rely on clean and safe water in our daily routines.

Since 2019, Ferguson, IAPMO and IWSH have worked to provide support for the more than 2.2 million Americans living without access to clean water and proper sanitation and draw attention to the growing water crisis in the U.S.

The organizations recently renewed their commitment to broaden their scope of influence and impact through industry research and plumbing action-oriented projects in underserved communities across the U.S. Going forward, the organizations will collaborate on awareness and educational events that draw attention to water and wastewater challenges in the U.S. and demonstrate the importance of the plumbing industry in protecting public health. This includes the UN 2023 Water Conference, taking place on World Water Day, where the plumbing industry is helping to shape the agenda.

“The need for clean and reliable water sources has never been greater,” explained Denise Vaughn, Ferguson's vice president of ESG. “Ferguson has a unique opportunity to partner with industry-leading organizations like IAPMO to develop and support real solutions to address our nation’s water challenges. As we observe World Water Way, we’re reminded of the need to accelerate and drive change to protect, preserve and provide water in the communities we serve. IAPMO is a leader in the water sector, and we’re excited to further our work that will help us achieve our collective goals aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 – the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”

“The number of those in the US without water access is actually increasing — there are currently more than 2 million people lacking adequate access to water and proper sanitation, a number that seems unfathomable in one of the world’s most prosperous countries,” stated Dave Viola, Chief Executive Officer of IAPMO, “To solve these problems, the responsibilities cannot fall entirely upon the impacted communities — it takes a village — communities, governments, corporations, nonprofits and NGOs must work together. That’s what brought us to this partnership four years ago and we look forward to continuing our work to address water and sanitation needs in the U.S.”

Ferguson’s work with IAPMO and IWSH is aligned with the company’s commitment to building water-resilient communities by leveraging its business expertise, associate volunteerism, and unique position in the value chain. Ferguson’s water stewardship efforts focus on helping communities adapt to extreme weather events, conserve water, and address longstanding water infrastructure issues in the U.S.