Clean drinking water keeps our communities safe

In New Zealand, we often take access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for granted (though with many of the events of recent years, this may be less true). A 2019 report by the World Health Organisation reminds us these services are vital for our health, well-being, and sustainable development. 

Clean water and sanitation ranks as the sixth most important goal in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Plumbers and drainlayers are at the front line when looking after people’s health and well-being. Unfortunately, it's often not until something goes wrong that many people realise the significance of good plumbing and drainage.

Without clean water, people can become sick, and in some cases, even lose their lives. Nestle faced a scandal in the 1970s when they promoted the use of their baby formula in developing countries. Why was it such an issue? Their formula was mixed with poor quality water which led to many infants dying. A bit more recently and closer to home, there was the 2016 incident in Havelock North where the water supply was contaminated and an estimated 5,500 people (out of 14,000) became ill. Or in 2019, when E-coli was found in Martinborough’s drinking water. This shows that even in developed countries with modern sanitation such as New Zealand, public health and safety can still easily be put at risk by contaminated water.

Similarly, when our sanitation systems fail, the consequences can be severe. Did you know that the reason the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board was established in 1913 was largely due to a typhoid outbreak in Wellington? Te Ara, the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, states that an investigation into a 1892 typhoid outbreak in Te Aro, Wellington, revealed a link between cases and the proximity to stormwater and sewer drains. Outbreaks occurred along certain sewer lines during heavy rain, as the rain blocked outfalls, causing sewer vapours to seep back up through toilets and drains into people's homes. This incident highlighted the critical need for skilled professionals to carry out plumbing and drainlaying work, ensuring homes and communities remained safe and healthy.

While it's easy to view plumbing and drainlaying solely as construction trades, it's worth noting that not long ago, these trades fell under the authority of the Ministry of Health because of their vital role in public health and well-being. It's important to remember the significance of plumbing and drainage in maintaining public health and the overall safe functioning of our communities.