While this issue comes to you a bit later than usual, it gives us an opportunity to look back on what has been an exciting and productive few months for the World Plumbing Council.

There is no better place to begin than with the tremendous success of the 14th World Plumbing Conference, held in June in Birmingham, England. Bringing together plumbing professionals, industry leaders, educators and organizations from around the world, the conference once again demonstrated the value of coming together to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships and address the challenges facing our global industry.

On behalf of the World Plumbing Council, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) for serving as our host. The hospitality, preparation and commitment of the entire CIPHE team were evident throughout the event, and their efforts helped make Birmingham a memorable experience for everyone who attended. Thank you to all who played a part in making the conference such a success.

The conference also marked several important moments for the WPC, including changes to our Executive Board and the announcement of this year’s award recipients. I want to express my sincere appreciation to Tom Bigley, Jean Claude Twagirimana and BSA Narayan as they conclude their service on the board. Each has given generously of their time and expertise, and the WPC is stronger because of their contributions. You can read more about our new and departing board members, as well as this year’s award honorees, in this issue.

As we move forward, I am encouraged by the energy and enthusiasm I saw in Birmingham and by the continued commitment of our members around the world. I am also excited to look ahead to the 2029 World Plumbing Conference in India and the opportunities that await us in the years to come.

Thank you for everything you do to support the World Plumbing Council and to advance the plumbing profession.

Dave Viola
Chair, World Plumbing Council

The 14th World Plumbing Conference, held June 23–25 at the NEC Birmingham in conjunction with InstallerSHOW, brought plumbing professionals, industry leaders and stakeholders from around the world together for three days of collaboration, education and forward-looking discussion.

Throughout the conference, conversations centered on four key pillars: Skills Development, Supply & Conservation, Sustainability, and Safeguarding the Public. Sessions explored workforce development, water efficiency, public health, emerging technologies, sanitation, training and other issues shaping the future of the plumbing profession worldwide.

The World Plumbing Council extends a sincere thank you to the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering (CIPHE) for its outstanding work as host. The organization, hospitality and commitment of the CIPHE team helped make the conference a successful and memorable gathering for the global plumbing community. We also thank everyone who attended, presented and contributed to the conversations in Birmingham.

Couldn’t attend, or want to revisit a favorite session? Recordings from all three days of conference presentations are now available online, covering topics ranging from the global skills gap and water neutrality to backflow prevention, antimicrobial resistance, sanitation and the future of water.

Watch the 2026 World Plumbing Conference presentations: https://worldplumbing.org/2026-wpc-general-meeting/

View photos from the vent: https://wpc2026.com/elementor-6574/

The World Plumbing Council is pleased to congratulate the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) on being selected to host the World Plumbing Conference 2029.

The proposed theme, “Plumbing Beyond Pipes: Human Centric Systems for a Changing World,” reflects the increasingly important role plumbing plays in water, cleanliness and hygiene; health and human well-being; and environmental sustainability. With India’s rapidly growing water, sanitation and plumbing sector, along with IPA’s long history of industry education, events and water conservation initiatives, WPC 2029 promises to provide an exciting setting for exchanging ideas, strengthening international relationships and advancing the plumbing profession.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to experience India’s culture and history. The host proposal highlights potential pre- and post-conference tourism opportunities through India’s Golden Triangle, including Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

The WPC also extends its sincere thanks to the Singapore Plumbing Society for submitting a proposal to host the 2029 conference and for its interest and commitment to the World Plumbing Council. We appreciate the time and effort that went into the bid presentation and the continued support of our global community.

Congratulations to IPA. We look forward to welcoming the world to New Delhi in 2029!

The World Plumbing Council is pleased to welcome three new members to its Executive Board following elections held during the 2026 World Plumbing Conference in Birmingham.

Joining the board are Ashleigh Dalmau, Director, Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia; B.O. Prasanna Kumar, Director, Indian Plumbing Association; and Thomas McCarthy, Director, United Association, USA. Each brings valuable industry experience and a strong commitment to advancing the plumbing profession, and the WPC looks forward to the perspectives and leadership they will contribute in the years ahead. Look for board member highlights in next year’s issues of this newsletter.

Dalmau’s appointment also marks an important milestone for the organization as she becomes the first woman to serve on the WPC Executive Board. Her election reflects the continued growth and diversity of leadership within the global plumbing community.

As we welcome our new directors, the WPC also extends its sincere thanks to Tom Bigley, Jean Claude Twagirimana and B.S.A. Narayan as they conclude their service on the board. Their time, expertise and commitment have helped guide the Council and strengthen its work around the world. We are grateful for their many contributions and for their continued support of the WPC and the global plumbing profession.

Reflecting on his time on the board, Bigley shared:

“Serving on the WPC Board has been a truly rewarding experience. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work alongside so many dedicated people who care deeply about the organization and its mission. I’m grateful for the relationships I’ve built and for the chance to contribute to the continued growth and success of WPC. The friendships I’ve made with scholarship recipients who traveled to the United States to study at ITP will last forever. I feel I made a difference and know that the next Board of Directors will make it even better.”

The WPC congratulates its new board members and thanks its departing directors for their leadership, service and dedication. We look forward to building on their contributions as the Council continues working to unite and advance the plumbing profession worldwide.

The World Plumbing Council celebrated outstanding leadership, service and achievement across the global plumbing profession with the launch of its WPC Awards and Recognition Program during the World Plumbing Conference in Birmingham.

Presented for the first time at a World Plumbing Conference, the program recognizes individuals whose dedication, leadership and service have helped shape the plumbing profession. The awards are presented at three levels: the WPC Merit Award, recognizing dedication and commitment at any career stage; the WPC Excellence Award, honoring significant achievement, leadership and innovation; and the Geoffrey Marsh Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the WPC.

John Lansing was selected as the inaugural recipient of the WPC Merit Award. A familiar participant in World Plumbing Conferences, Lansing previously attended the 2023 conference in Shanghai and spoke in Birmingham on the “Legacy of Sewers.” In addition to his technical work in plumbing system design, codes and standards, he has supported the WPC Scholarship Program, including helping host a scholarship recipient visiting the United States from Vietnam.

The WPC Excellence Award recognized Peter Jackson, Pete DeMarco and B.S.A. Narayan for their significant contributions to the profession. Narayan has spent more than four decades helping shape India’s plumbing and fire protection industry. A past National Vice President of the Indian Plumbing Association and former WPC director, he has also been a longtime advocate for sustainable water management.

Peter Jackson has dedicated more than 30 years to advancing the plumbing and construction industries through visionary leadership, outstanding governance, and a commitment to excellence. As a former member of the World Plumbing Council Executive Board, he helped strengthen the profession globally while serving as a respected voice for New Zealand’s industry. His distinguished career, recognized by numerous industry honors, stands as a testament to his enduring influence, mentorship, and service.

Pete DeMarco was recognized for a career defined by technical leadership, research and a commitment to improving plumbing system performance. During his distinguished career with IAPMO, DeMarco helped bridge research, policy, standards development and real-world application, while advancing water-efficiency initiatives, supporting the development of the EPA WaterSense program and founding the Plumbing Efficiency Research Coalition. A longtime supporter of the World Plumbing Council, he has also contributed his expertise to technical programs, educational initiatives and international efforts focused on sanitation, water quality and public health. His work has helped influence codes, standards, industry best practices and policy discussions around the world.

Four industry leaders received the Geoffrey Marsh Distinguished Service Award: Kenneth Gardner, Tom Bigley, Rory Macnamara and Kevin Wellman. Named in honor of former WPC Chair Geoffrey Marsh MBE, the award recognizes individuals whose long-term leadership has helped shape policy, raise standards, advance the WPC mission and serve as an example to the global plumbing community.

Kenneth Gardner was recognized for a career dedicated to strengthening the profession and investing in the next generation, with training, innovation and workforce development forming an important part of his legacy. Tom Bigley was honored for decades of leadership, collaboration and public advocacy, including his service on the WPC Executive Board and his work supporting membership and scholarship programs.

Rory Macnamara was recognized for more than 60 years of service and for building relationships across the industries he has served. His career has been marked by a commitment to raising standards, challenging the status quo and strengthening the profession.

The evening concluded with a surprise presentation to Kevin Wellman, recognizing his decades of service to the plumbing and heating profession. Among his many contributions, Wellman has supported apprenticeship development, continuing professional development, water efficiency and stronger recognition of plumbing’s essential role in protecting public health.

The World Plumbing Council congratulates all of this year’s recipients and thanks them for the lasting contributions they have made to the plumbing profession and to communities around the world.

To view photos from the award ceremony: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCXEMN

WorldSkills Plumbing and Heating competitors-in-training gathered at the triennial World Plumbing Conference (WPC2026) in Birmingham, United Kingdom, this June to experience what the biennial competition in Shanghai will be like, just three months before the event.

The Skills Forum at WPC2026, a new addition to the UK’s annual InstallerSHOW, attracted plumbing competitors and experts from around the world.

Sixteen Countries Join Forces in Birmingham

Of the 35 countries registered to compete in the Plumbing and Heating competition at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 in September, 16 sent representatives to the Skills Forum at WPC2026: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Read more: https://iwsh.org/iwsh-news/skills-forum-at-wpc2026-16-countries-train-together-before-2026-worldskills-shanghai

Submitted by The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) has teamed up with the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) to donate equipment used at this year’s UK Skills Forum to Euston Skills Centre in London, where it will be used to train the next generation of plumbing and heating engineers.

The invitational UK Skills Forum took place at InstallerSHOW 2026 in June and was part of the World Plumbing Conference, organised by the CIPHE and World Plumbing Council. The Skills Forum, featuring tradespeople from 16 countries, was designed to give plumbing and heating competitors the chance to put their training to the test as they prepare for the forthcoming WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Plumbing and Heating competition.

Product for the competition was donated by leading manufacturers including Mueller Europe Copper Tubes, Hinton Tools, Polypipe Building Products, Rothenberger, Aalberts, Monument Tools, LIXIL-GROHE, Fernox and Knipex.

Determined to build a lasting legacy from the conference, and unwilling to see the equipment go to waste, the CIPHE turned to IWSH to help find the kits a good home. Working together, and with the help of Camden Council and The Plumber Awards 2026 winner, Louchavan Lemard, Euston Skills Centre was identified as the worthy beneficiary. Further donations were made to Treloar School in Alton, a specialist education centre for young disabled people to live and learn.

The donated tools and materials will be used for hands-on student training and, where suitable, out on live projects near the college, allowing students to learn their trade while directly reusing materials in their local community. IWSH works on similar projects around the world, but this marks the first time the organisation has delivered a project like this in the UK.

Kevin Wellman, CEO of the CIPHE, said: “When we brought the World Plumbing Conference back to the UK for the first time since 2011, we were determined that its impact wouldn’t end when the doors closed. Seeing the kit and tools that inspired the WorldSkills competitors now going on to train the next generation of plumbing and heating engineers is exactly the kind of legacy we hoped for. Our thanks go to IWSH for making this happen, and to Louchavan Lemard.”

The donation brings together the generosity of some of the industry’s leading manufacturers, the international reach of IWSH, and the on-the-ground commitment of tradespeople, ensuring the equipment showcased during the World Plumbing Conference continues to have a real, practical impact long after the contest ended.

Submitted by ISH Frankfurt

Modern buildings combine an increasing number of technical systems, digital functions and data flows. Heating and cooling, ventilation, water, energy, lighting and building automation must operate efficiently in their own right while also functioning as an integrated whole. For planners and engineers, integrating systems across disciplines is therefore becoming a key task. At ISH, taking place in Frankfurt am Main from 15 to 19 March 2027, the technologies and stakeholders essential to this will come together.

The growing complexity of large construction projects is particularly evident in building automation. This is where information and control tasks from different disciplines converge. “It is about integrating all measurement, control and regulation technology, in both hardware and software, for heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems, lifts, blinds, lighting and more. In large buildings, there can be 40,000 or more data points, much of it hidden above ceilings, in basements or on rooftops,” explains Dr Peter Hug, Managing Director of the Building Automation Association within VDMA.

Read more: https://ish.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/press/press-releases/ish/intelligently-connecting-building.html

Submitted by The Indian Plumbing Association (IPA)

The Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) continued to expand its industry and educational outreach in 2026 through three major initiatives: PlumbexIndia 2026, the Indian Architecture Plumbing League (IAPL) and the Indian Designers Plumbing League (IDPL).

Held April 17–19 in Bengaluru, PlumbexIndia 2026 brought together industry leaders, policymakers, architects, developers, designers, manufacturers, contractors, educators and young professionals from across the water, sanitation and plumbing sector. Spanning 15,000 square meters, the event welcomed more than 15,000 visitors, 180 exhibitors and 300 special guests, dignitaries and speakers. The program also included expert panel discussions, industry recognition awards and opportunities for knowledge sharing across the sector.

Among the event highlights was the IPA Bathroom Challenge, organized in collaboration with IAPMO and IWSH. Seven teams took part in the live installation competition, demonstrating practical skills and teamwork in bathroom and toilet installations. PlumbexIndia also featured the IPA Around the Drop Challenge, developed with Ethos Power to encourage students and young innovators to explore creative approaches to water resilience and water management in the built environment.

IPA continued its educational efforts in June with the Indian Architecture Plumbing League, organized with the Council of Architecture through CoA-TRC Delhi. The initiative included an online orientation that attracted more than 5,250 registrations, followed by a five-day professional development program featuring 20 hours of instruction, 11 expert-led sessions and hands-on site visits for architectural students.

Through the Indian Designers Plumbing League, IPA also partnered with the Indian Institute of Interior Designers to present the orientation program “Beyond Pipes – Integrating Plumbing into Design Thinking.” More than 300 students and professionals participated, exploring the importance of incorporating plumbing considerations into interior design and the broader built environment.

Together, these initiatives reflect IPA’s continued commitment to strengthening professional knowledge, developing the next generation of industry leaders and advancing better water, sanitation and plumbing practices throughout India.

Submitted by IAPMO

IAPMO^® signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) during the 14th World Plumbing Conference, held in Birmingham, United Kingdom, establishing expanded international collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE).

The agreements formalize a shared commitment among the organizations to advance public health, safety and wellbeing through education, sustainability initiatives, water efficiency, research, professional development and the exchange of technical expertise.The first agreement, signed by IAPMO CEO Dave Viola and CIPHE CEO Kevin Wellman, establishes a framework for cooperation between IAPMO and CIPHE across a broad range of areas, including education, sustainability, water efficiency, heating, ventilation and cooling technologies, research, membership engagement and publications.

The organizations will explore opportunities to collaborate on professional training initiatives, technical guidance, public awareness campaigns, water management programs and research projects. The agreement also encourages joint efforts to advance water efficiency through initiatives such as a Global Water Efficiency Labelling System, promotion of IAPMO’s Water Demand Calculator^®, and greater adoption of water reuse systems including rainwater, stormwater and greywater applications.

In addition, the organizations will share information related to renewable energy technologies, net-zero initiatives and low-temperature heating, ventilation and cooling systems while expanding the exchange of technical publications and standards within their respective markets.

The second agreement brings together IAPMO, ASPE and CIPHE in a trilateral partnership designed to leverage the combined expertise of the three organizations. Signed by Viola, Wellman and ASPE Executive Director/CEO Billy Smith, FASPE, the agreement focuses on collaborative efforts in education, sustainability, water efficiency, research, membership and publications.

Through the agreement, the organizations will pursue opportunities for joint technical guidance, professional training, public awareness initiatives and collaborative research related to plumbing and mechanical systems. The partnership also provides a framework for sharing publications, promoting reciprocal membership opportunities and expanding the global dissemination of technical expertise, standards and best practices.

“The challenges facing our industry — from water scarcity and sustainability to workforce development and emerging technologies — are global in nature and require global collaboration,” Viola said. “These agreements reflect a shared commitment among IAPMO, CIPHE and ASPE to work together in advancing education, research, water efficiency and public health. By combining our expertise and resources, we can accelerate innovation, strengthen professional development and help ensure safer, more sustainable plumbing and mechanical systems for communities around the world.”

“This collaboration presents a wonderful opportunity for ASPE to join with likeminded partners such as IAPMO and CIPHE to address the many industry and worldwide challenges we face on a daily basis,” Smith said. “As the international organization representing the plumbing design community, ASPE is devoted to advancing this profession while promoting public health, welfare, and safety. Through this agreement we will help provide technical resources, education, research, and opportunities for continued collaboration to help engineers and designers apply innovative approaches to plumbing design, contributing to the development of effective, sustainable solutions around the world.”

“CIPHE is pleased to strengthen its relationship with IAPMO and ASPE through these agreements,” Wellman said. “By working together, we can share knowledge, support professional development and help advance sustainable, safe and effective plumbing and heating solutions that protect public health and benefit communities worldwide. The recent highly acclaimed World Plumbing Conference held in the UK served as a timely reminder that there are global plumbing problems that we can support each other with.”

The agreements were signed during the World Plumbing Conference, which brought together industry leaders, technical experts and stakeholders from around the globe to discuss issues affecting the future of plumbing, mechanical systems and public health.

The MOUs establish an initial one-year term with automatic annual renewals and provide a foundation for future collaborative projects and initiatives among the participating organizations.

World Plumbing Council membership renewal notices will begin going out in November.

As we prepare for another year, we encourage all members to renew and continue supporting the important work of the WPC. Your membership helps make possible the programs, partnerships and initiatives that bring the global plumbing community together, promote knowledge sharing, support education and professional development, and advance the role of plumbing in protecting health and improving lives around the world.

We are grateful for your continued involvement and support and look forward to working together in the year ahead.

Please watch for your renewal notice beginning in November.

AHR 2027
2-4 February
Las Vegas, NV, USA
ahrexpo.com

NKBA/KBIS 2027
2-4 February
Las Vegas, NV, USA
kbis.com

ISH 2027
15-19 March 2027
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
ish.messefrankfurt.com

WQA Convention and Expo 2027
28-30 April
Phoenix, AZ, USA
convention.wqa.org/

ISH China
12-14 May
Beijing, China
ishc-cihe.hk.messefrankfurt.com/beijing/en.html

IAPMO 2027 Annual Education and Business Conference
27-30 September
Honolulu, HI USA
iapmo.org

Contact secretariat@worldplumbing.org to provide an event report or request listing of an upcoming event.