Cohort Presents Findings to Address Wastewater Challenges Facing Millions of Americans |
IAPMO is proud to support DigDeep in launching the findings of a multiyear effort that brought together communities from across the United States to focus on sanitation access. In an event Mar. 31 hosted by the U.S. EPA and the USDA, the DigDeep Decentralized Wastewater Innovation Cohort (DWIC) led a roundtable discussion in which participants shared their collective experiences and recommended opportunities to federal agencies working to close the water and sanitation gap imperiling more than 2.2 million Americans. As chair of the cohort’s Technical Advisory Board, IAPMO helped assemble and lead key industry stakeholders in offering technical expertise that contributed to the findings released Thursday.
The DWIC is a community-driven, multiyear effort to improve understanding of the wastewater challenges remote communities face across the United States, the solutions being developed, and the ways policymakers can improve the impact, sustainability, and scalability of those innovations. The DWIC created meaningful connections between rural communities piloting innovative solutions to tough wastewater challenges — from Alaska to New York—through facilitated working groups, site exchanges, and even trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with regulators. The DWIC’s members include the Navajo Water Project, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Stony Brook University’s NYS Center for Clean Water Technology, Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations (WAI), and the Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program (BBUWP).
“We are proud to support the cohort in presenting policy recommendations that would have a tremendous impact on bringing safe sanitation to millions of Americans,” said Christopher Lindsay, vice president of Government Relations for The IAPMO Group. “Universal access to water and sanitation underlies so much of the work we do at IAPMO. We were proud to offer our technical and policy expertise to support this effort that brought together leaders from across the United States.”
More than 2.2 million Americans lack access to basic plumbing, with many living in areas where a centralized wastewater system is not technically or economically feasible. In such cases, decentralized wastewater technologies — from traditional septic systems to advanced on-site wastewater treatment systems — are often key to connecting communities with the basic sanitation services they need, but they have lacked visibility, adequate funding, consistent regulation, and incentives for innovation in the past.
Despite federal initiatives that have sought to alleviate funding, regulatory, and technological issues, impacted communities still face significant barriers, which require policy and programmatic changes across the nation. There is urgent cause to rectify the wastewater injustices that communities have long faced across the country, and now, more than ever, federal funding is available to implement solutions.
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Utah Gov. Cox Signs Bill to Protect Children from Lead in Drinking Water |
IAPMO, along with its partners at the American Supply Association, NSF international, and the Water Quality Association, applauds the state of Utah for passing House Bill 21 into law, which advances the state’s efforts to address water quality testing for schools and child care centers. Gov. Spencer Cox signed HB 21 into law on Thursday.
“I am pleased to sign HB 21 into law and help protect the health and safety of school children in Utah,” Cox said. “Utah is taking the appropriate steps to get the lead out of drinking water and ensure that our children are drinking safe and clean water.”
Sponsored by Rep. Steve Handy (R-16) and Sen. Jani Iwamoto (D-4), HB 21 outlines timelines for schools and child care centers to test the quality of water in their buildings and report that testing data.
Facilities will then need to take action if the presence of lead is above 5 parts per billion, keeping in line with the industry’s current drinking water quality standards and product capabilities.
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IAPMO Code Change Monographs Now Available |
IAPMO has made the 2022 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC®) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC®) technical committee meeting monographs available for download.
All individuals anticipating an active role in the ANSI-accredited consensus development of the Uniform Codes at the technical committee meetings in Anaheim, May 2-5, can download these documents from the following URLs:
The monographs contain every public comment submitted for the 2024 editions of the UPC and UMC as part of the code development process employed by IAPMO.
Topic areas for public comments to the UPC include: reference standards for plumbing fixtures; temperature limitations of appliances and fixtures; drinking water treatment systems; beverage faucets; water supply fixture branch pipe sizing; hangers and supports; material for building storm sewer pipe; fuel gas provisions; medical gas provisions; rainwater catchment systems; flexible water connectors; material requirements for water supply and distribution systems; tankless water heater connections; pitless wells; water softeners and water treatment systems; backflow prevention devices; sewer cleanouts; rehabilitation provisions for building sewer and sewer lateral piping; indoor horticulture facilities; roof drainage provisions; circuit venting provisions; recirculating pumps in healthcare facilities; septic tank construction; and Legionella and scalding risks.
Topic areas for public comments to the UMC include: installation requirements for listed appliances; clearance requirements for equipment and appliances; condensate control; various ventilation and exhaust system requirements (including health care facilities); smoke control systems; environmental and product conveying air ducts; Type I and Type II hoods; various provisions for air ducts and dampers; air balancing and air filtration requirements; Legionella risk management provisions; decorative appliances and fireplaces; air conditioning systems; refrigeration systems (including A2L); various hydronic system provisions; fuel gas piping; district geothermal energy systems; indoor horticultural facilities; professional qualifications; and requirements for operation, closure, and restarting of cooling towers.
For specific information about the UPC technical committee, please contact Enrique Gonzalez at (909) 230-5535 or e-mail your question to enrique.gonzalez@iapmo.org. For the UMC technical committee, contact Zalmie Hussein at (909) 218-8122 or e-mail your question to zalmie.hussein@iapmo.org.
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IAPMO Seeks Technical Subcommittee Members for Development of National Standard IAPMO Z1065 |
IAPMO is seeking volunteers, with technical background in plumbing systems and specific knowledge of airgap units for potable water supply — such as jurisdictional authorities, testing lab and educational facility representatives, as well as manufacturing experts — to participate on the IAPMO Z1065 Technical Subcommittee (TSC) in the development of IAPMO Z1065, Airgap Units for Water Conditioning Equipment Installation.
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IAPMO Seeks Hydrogen Fuel Gas Piping Task Group Members |
IAPMO is accepting applications from technical experts to participate on the Hydrogen Fuel Gas Piping Task Group.
The task group’s goal is to create a Hydrogen Fuel Gas Piping Appendix to be added to IAPMO’s Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC®). This is in line with IAPMO’s effort to continue making the UPC the most technical, flexible and customizable plumbing code available to jurisdictions in the United States.
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EPA WIFIA Annual Report Celebrates over $5 Billion in Water Infrastructure Loans |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the 2021 Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Annual Report. The report highlights the program’s 2021 investments in water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment, create good-paying jobs, and save communities money over alternative financing options.
“The WIFIA program has been an incredible success, providing more than $5 billion in water infrastructure funding in 2021 to save communities $1.5 billion while creating nearly 40,000 jobs,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The WIFIA program, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the agency’s other water infrastructure funding programs are building a better America by securing clean and safe water for all.”
In 2021, the WIFIA program closed 31 loans totaling over $5 billion to support nearly $12 billion in water infrastructure projects. At the same time, borrowers saved $1.5 billion and created nearly 40,000 jobs. The WIFIA program continues to broaden its reach by increasing the number of loans to borrowers with lower-rated credit, small communities, and underserved communities. Looking forward, the program has nearly 90 projects requesting over $14 billion in funding.
Additionally, to provide real time information about the WIFIA program, EPA is launching the WIFIA Fund Facts dashboard. This interactive web-based tool includes graphics and facts about closed and pending loans. Users can filter the data to get information by loan size, project type, geographic location, and loan status.
For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: WIFIA.
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Total Construction Starts Increase in February |
Total construction starts rose 9% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.013 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts swelled 32% due to the start of three large manufacturing facilities. By contrast, residential starts fell 3%, and nonbuilding starts fell by less than 1%. Without the three large manufacturing projects, total construction would have declined 6% in February.
Year-to-date, total construction was 14% higher in the first two months of 2022 than in the same period of 2021. Nonresidential building starts jumped 39%, nonbuilding starts rose 4% and residential starts gained 5%. For the 12 months ending February 2022, total construction starts were 16% above the 12 months ending February 2021. Nonresidential starts were 23% higher, residential starts gained 19% and nonbuilding starts were up 1%.
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EPA Announces the “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge” to Help Building Owners and Operators Improve Indoor Air Quality and Protect Public Health |
As part of President Biden’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan released March 3rd, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing the “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge,” a call to action and a concise set of guiding principles and actions to assist building owners and operators with reducing risks from airborne viruses and other contaminants indoors. The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge highlights a range of recommendations and resources available to assist with improving ventilation and indoor air quality, which can help to better protect the health of building occupants and reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.
"Protecting our public health means improving our indoor air quality. Today, EPA is following through on President Biden’s plan to move our nation forward in a healthy, sustainable way as we fight COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, building managers and facility staff have been on the frontlines implementing approaches to protect and improve indoor air quality to reduce risks and keep their occupants safe and healthy, and we are so grateful for their efforts,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge is an important part of helping us all to breathe easier."
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California Bill Pushes Natural Refrigerants and Lower GWPs for F-Gases |
California State Senator Nancy Skinner has submitted a bill (SB 1206) that would push for the use of natural refrigerants while lowering acceptable GWP levels for HFC gases.
According to Skinner, SB 1206 would dramatically reduce the sale and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in California by 2030. Although HFCs are short-lived, they are thousands of times more potent in their climate-damaging impact than carbon dioxide. HFCs are widely used in aerosols, foams, refrigeration, and air conditioning.
If passed it would prohibit the sale, distribution, or entering into state commerce bulk HFCs or bulk blends containing HFCs that exceed: a) GWP of 1,400 after January 1, 2025; and b) GWP of 750 after January 1, 2030.
“The global scientific community agrees that we need to act fast to avoid devastating climate impacts. My bill package recognizes that short-term and long-term actions are needed now to both reduce and capture greenhouse gas emissions,” Sen. Skinner said. “These bills will also help California maintain its leadership role in protecting our planet.”
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All-Purpose Plumbing Celebrates Women's History Month by Honoring Women's Impact on the Plumbing Industry |
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Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. All-Purpose Plumbing in Tacoma, WA celebrated by highlighting women’s who helped shape the plumbing industry.
From the article:
There are also more woman-owned plumbing businesses than ever before. These are often run by daughters who learned the ropes and took over the family business, but others were founded by women who started as plumbing technicians and worked their way up.
One perfect example of the latter category is Adrienne Bennett, who became the first African-American female master plumber in 1987. Bennett endured adversity and discrimination to break down barriers, cast aside gender stereotypes, and become something of an industry legend. Today, she is the President and CEO of a successful plumbing contracting business she co-founded.
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2022 UPC/UMC Technical Committee Meetings
May 2 - 5, 2022
Anaheim, CA
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Emerging Water Technology Symposium (EWTS)
May 10-11, 2022
San Antonio, TX
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IAPMO 92nd Annual Education and Business Conference
September 11-15, 2022
Charlotte, NC
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Upcoming Training | Earn your Continuing Education with IAPMO training.
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IAPMO is an approved provider for Continuing Education by USGBC, IACET, AIA and many local organizations and jurisdictions. Contact the IAPMO Training staff to register at 1-877-427-6601, or go to our website https://iapmolearn.org/ to register online. New training dates are added periodically!
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