If you’ve ever taken a hot shower, enjoyed a climate-controlled home, used a washing machine or flushed a toilet, you should take a moment to thank a plumber.

All across the globe, people will be pausing on March 11 to celebrate World Plumbing Day and acknowledge that plumbing is a large part of everyday life. The World Plumbing Council created this event in 2009 for all of us to reflect on the vital role plumbing has played in protecting public health and improving the quality of our lives.

This year, on the tenth anniversary of the first World Plumbing Day and under the shadow of the coronavirus, the world is focused on the health-related importance of plumbing like never before. Let’s remember, as we take extra precautions to protect ourselves from illness by washing hands and sanitizing areas where we live and work, that plumbing is our first line of defense.

Plumbing literally saves lives and improves the world.

Let’s also remember that simple, everyday conveniences such as turning on the tap and flushing the toilet are possible thanks to trained plumbers and advancements in plumbing. This essential service goes back to ancient times.

The Romans introduced aqueducts to bring in clean water and flush wastewater from towns and homes. Modern plumbing was introduced a little more than a century ago. The Industrial Revolution led to the development of sewer systems, indoor plumbing and municipal sanitation programs that made life more pleasant and also reduced outbreaks of diseases such as typhoid, cholera and diphtheria.

World Plumbing Day encourages us to consider these milestones and appreciate this simple amenity that makes our lives better.

Adversely, life without basic plumbing is often linked to lowered living standards and serious health consequences. Yet, even today, our world is still a place where:

• 2.1 billion people lack access to safe, readily available water at home.

• 263 million people spend over 30 minutes per round trip to collect safe drinking water.

• 900 million schoolchildren have no hand-washing facilities.

• 4.5 billion people do not have toilets in their homes.

• 361,000 children under 5 years of age die each year due to water-borne diarrhea.

• One in every five schools has no toilet facilities.

While effective plumbing is essential for sustaining a healthy lifestyle, it also plays a major role in supporting our environment. With increased water shortages and droughts worldwide, sustainable and energy-efficient plumbing is vital in helping the planet.

We all can make a difference in the sustainability of our planet. We just do it one drop at a time. It might start by teaching our children the importance of saving water while brushing their teeth and practicing good hand washing.

As CEO of Roto-Rooter Plumbers of Savannah, I am always available to speak to school and civic groups about water conservation techniques, and we enjoy connecting people with opportunities to support causes that promote access to basic plumbing.

When I think of the future, my passion as a plumbing professional is most ardent because this is an exciting and promising time in our industry. We are in the midst of a new technological revolution. These days we routinely use cameras, leak detection equipment and water-jetters to diagnose and repair problems. When we can use video to show a customer the inside of a pipe, it helps provide assurances to them and ensures we can retain masterful plumbers.

The plumbing industry is also leading the way in helping those who wish to age in place by making it possible for them to live in the residence of their choice as long as possible. We accomplish this by remodeling certain aspects of homes to accommodate mobility issues. This might include changing the heights of sinks, retrofitting showers with grab bars or installing touch-controlled toilets that also function as a bidet.

This is also an exciting time here in southeast Georgia, where we are continuing to develop strategies in water conservation and green technologies as well as investing in researching and coordinating the introduction of new products and processes for our customers. While I’ve been in the business for nearly 50 years, I’m pleased to say the best is yet to come.

On this World Plumbing Day, while spending those few extra seconds washing our hands, let’s remember to think about the pioneers, to thank the innovators and celebrate the technicians who have made our lives better by providing the valuable resource of plumbing.