IAPMO Officials Support, Participate in World Water Day Events

WASHINGTON, D.C. – IAPMO supported and participated in World Water Day events on March 22 as a member of the U.S. Water Partnership at the U.S. Department of State. The day began with speakers from the State Department, Environmental Protection Agency and other federal officials promoting the elevation of water infrastructure as a national priority, water equity and affordability and water financing.

IAPMO also participated in the 2017 Water Leader Award Ceremony, in which the inaugural award was presented to Muhtar Kent, chairman of the board and CEO of Coca-Cola. This award was created by the U.S. Water Partnership, of which IAPMO is a long-standing member. IAPMO officials subsequently met with other members of this partnership to discuss how to improve water and sanitation services domestically and internationally.

The United Nations General Assembly designated March 22, 1993, as the first World Water Day. The day serves as an opportunity to learn more about water-related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. Each year, U.N. Water — the entity that coordinates the U.N.’s work on water and sanitation — sets a theme for World Water Day that corresponds with a current or future challenge. This year’s theme is “Why waste water?”

Earlier in the day, IAPMO officials met with the Funder Collective, a group of foundations and related organizations that invest in helping populations increase access to water, sanitation and hygiene services. IAPMO officials discussed with these funders how to make partnerships more effective and steps that can be taken to improve each organization’s strategy.

IAPMO officials also joined key stakeholders from the water industry for the National Water Policy Fly-In. During the course of this event, IAPMO officials met with policymakers from the Trump administration and Capitol Hill to discuss the critical water infrastructure needs facing America’s communities.

“Water issues abound in the U.S. and globally, and are only expected to expand significantly in the coming years,” said Dain Hansen, senior vice president of government relations for The IAPMO Group. ”Elevating the issues related to water at the highest levels of government is vital and is exactly what IAPMO is doing — not only on days like World Plumbing Day and World Water Day, but every day throughout the year.”