We all know that washing our hands and having access to safe, clean drinking water are two of the simplest, yet most critical, steps in preventing disease. We tend not to think about the “gross” aspects of plumbing, such as wastewater disposal, because they’re icky and smelly. In doing so, we tend to take the importance of plumbing for granted in assuring a safer and healthier lifestyle for people around the world.
In 2014, the World Health Organization declared plumbers, more than doctors, nurses, immunologists, and other disease detectors and bug battlers, the most important frontline health workers worldwide. This is because assuring access to clean, sanitary systems for securing water to drink, bathe with, and use to dispose of waste has a radical impact on the overall health of the population in any given area. Such access also makes it easier and safer for medical professionals and other first responders to effectively and safely respond to emergencies and deliver lifesaving care when necessary.
Because so much plumbing work happens behind the scenes and out of sight, many people never think about the vital role plumbers play in facilitating the safer, more sanitary, healthier lifestyle most people in America and other developed nations enjoy. They also work hard to implement new plumbing and sanitation systems in developing countries, which means more people can make use of our most precious natural resource in a way that’s better for them, their communities, and the overall health and hygiene of people everywhere.
The next time you hear a gurgling in your pipes, or your septic tank is backing up, or you notice a slow leak from your faucet, your first inclination might be to shake your head or roll your eyes because you need a plumber. Remember when you call them that you’re not just dealing with someone who tinkers with pipes—you’re working with a highly trained, skilled professional whose job WHO says is more critical to public health, safety, and infrastructure than medical personnel! Just some food for thought…
