Consumer News & Events

08.30.11
Take the UK’s Big Tap Challenge –
The U.K.'s Big Tap Challenge highlights the most familiar parts of the home where water is wasted and encourages people to change their bad habits. Using less water - and less energy to heat water - saves money and reduces our carbon footprint, which helps prevent global warming. Those who make the pledge before September 30, 2011 can enter to win dozens of water-related prizes.
07.21.11
PMI Praises California’s Lead Testing Results –
Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) members' products successfully passed the California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC)'s first testing for reduced lead content in drinking water faucets, pipes and pipefittings. Read the news release by clicking here.
EVENT: August 21 - August 21, 2011
Canadians Ride for Habitat, Aug. 21 –
The Canadian Institute for Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) and the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) will get their motors running for a second annual motorcycle ride to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity Canada. The event will take place Sunday, August 21, 2011. To download a PDF of the news release, please click here.
06.01.11
PMI presents Legislator of the Year Awards to supporters of Reduction of Lead in Water Act –
Members of the Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) Executive Committee and PMI Executive Director Barbara C. Higgens traveled to Washington, D.C., to present Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and James Inhofe (R-OK) and Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) with the Legislator of the Year awards. These elected officials were recognized for their leadership and support of the PMI-supported Reduction of Lead in Water Act signed into law Jan. 4 by President Barack Obama (P.L.111-380). The bill harmonizes the 0.25% maximum lead content of plumbing products and provides a 36-month implementation period.
05.02.11
Where UNICEF’s money goes –
All the funds raised through the UNICEF Tap Project has gone toward UNICEF’s water, sanitation and hygiene programs. Since 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project has raised nearly $2.5 million for water and sanitation programs for children in Belize, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Togo and Vietnam. UNICEF is committed to finding cost-effective and environmentally sound solutions to all child survival threats, including those connected to water and sanitation. Read stories about how UNICEF has helped children gain access to lifesaving clean water and sanitation.
04.29.11
Prevent Costly Water Bills This Summer –
A quick fix or minor update can prevent large water bills and wastage in the summer. In spite of increased snow pack and total precipitation in the Cheyenne, Wyo., the Board of Public Utilities advocates water conservation techniques for its residents. They are asking residents to locate leaks in their houses and consider upgrading their plumbing. According to the utility, running toilets, dripping faucets and other household leaks waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water per home per year. Fixing these leaks will allow residents to lower their water bills and conserve the precious resource. Click here for tips on how to locate leaks and conserve water.
04.25.11
Water for the Ages –
How much water is used to create the foods we eat? If you are serious about water conservation, you may look to your diet for changes. As it takes more water to grow a cow than to grow corn, for example, the diets consisting of fresh vegetables and fruits use far less water than a carnivore diet. Visit "Water for the Ages" to check your water footprint and review a list of water totals for food.
04.18.11
CA encourages residents to Be Water Wise –
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California shares a video with its Top Ten Tips for Saving Water. Other tips and tools for saving water - indoors and outdoors - also are listed on its website.
04.15.11
Fast food restaurant turns green –
A quick service restaurant chain that specializes in chicken menus is now going to the greener side of the food industry. The Chick-fil-A location in Fort Worth, Texas, is seeking a LEED certification from the U.S Green Building Council. Green features in the location include storm water collection for landscape irrigation, low-flow plumbing fixtures in the bathrooms and kitchen, and energy-efficient light system with light sensors. The fast food restaurant could save up to 14% on electric costs and 40% on water. Click here for more on the project.
04.13.11
L.A. Water Conservation Levels Near 25% –
Continuing to embrace water conservation as a common practice in Los Angeles, California single-family residential customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power used 24% less water in February 2011. Water usage in February also was lower citywide as customers across all sectors accomplished a 17% reduction, far exceeding the initial goal of 10% set in July 2007. Since June 2009, when Mandatory Water Conservation took effect in the City of LA, Angelenos have saved more than 70 billion gallons of water. Click here for more information on Mandatory Water Conservation rules in the City of Los Angeles and for tips to conserve water.
04.11.11
Water Conservation Tips for the Home –
With water conservation efforts under way in parts of Oklahoma, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has compiled a list of water conservation tips for residents. According to DEQ: the most substantial reduction in personal water use can be made in the bathroom. Two-thirds of the water used in the average home is used in the bathroom, because many people take long showers or flush the toilet unnecessarily. Water conservation not only saves water, it saves energy used to heat the water.
04.06.11
Showerheads: Water Saving Options –
Homeowners and renters alike that are looking to upgrade a bathroom in a big way might want to start small, with the showerhead. The shower is increasingly turning in to an individualized experience, with both water and wallet-saving features. Products with the WaterSense label tell consumers how to best conserve water and money when they move to new bathroom hardware.
EVENT:
World Vision honors Barbara C. Higgens –
Barbara C. Higgens, Plumbing Manufacturers International’s (PMI’s) executive director, will be recognized with a Crystal Vision “Robert P. Atkins Life Time Achievement Award.” World Vision will present the award during the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show on April 26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Higgens will be the third person ever to receive the Life Time Achievement Award. The award honors individual dedication to World Vision’s mission of ‘working with children, families and their worldwide communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.”

For more than 10 years, Higgens has championed The Storehouse of World Vision, which addresses the needs of Americans suffering from disaster, personal crisis or economic hardship by providing families with supplies, including building products and materials. Companies donate excess inventory or produced-to-give products to The Storehouse’s warehouses. The Storehouse, in turn, partners with other nonprofit organizations to install these much-needed products and materials in homes, shelters, rehabilitation facilities, schools, daycares, churches, and other community centers.

Read the news release by clicking here.
03.24.11
Forida’s Cooper City Uses 9% Less Water –
Cooper City, Florida's "You Win-We All Win" conservation program has exceeded its original goal of 5% water reductions by the year 2013. As of Feb. 1, 2011, the city has realized a 9.26% water usage reduction, nearly double its original goal. The campaign had many phases, including a contest amongst homeowners associations to see which one could save the most water, and auditing the water usage of the largest water consumers to see how they could improve their habits. The final, ongoing phase targets residents and provides tips and solutions to improve their water savings. For the savings tips and more, please read the article in Environmental Protection.
03.23.11
Teens raise funds, awareness about water –
In Wilton, Connecticut, teenagers are tackling safe water issues. For one dollar, the cost of a donut, candy bar or a 12-ounce soda, UNICEF can provide a thirsty child with 40 days of clean drinking water. The fund has estimated that 4,100 children die every day from water-related diseases. Through a national UNICEF campaign called Tap Project, Emmeline George and her peers from Wilton High School raise funds to increase the access to safe water for children in developing countries. As well as distributing fliers and making announcements during school, the teenagers have been recruiting local restaurants to participate in World Water Week. From March 20 to 26, those restaurants will encourage their patrons to donate $1 for tap water, with proceeds from the campaign going specifically to support efforts in Togo, Central African Republic and Vietnam. In past events, proceeds from UNICEF's Tap Project have helped improve access to water in densely-populated villages in Cote d'Ivoire; improve water sanitation in Nicaragua; provide emergency response and improved water sanitation in Iraq; and fund clean water projects in the Toledo region of Belize.

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