Empowering Change: International Code Council’s World Water Awareness Campaign Recap

This past March, the International Code Council hosted its second annual World Water Awareness campaign to raise awareness about the water crisis and underscore our collective responsibility to address it through long-term, consistent water conservation efforts.

The World Water Awareness campaign featured resources and information which help guide decision-makers in managing drinking water resources globally and aid in the rapid implementation of plumbing codes and standards. The resources included in-depth articles on water conservation initiatives and the advantages of the International Codes® (I-Codes), alongside podcast episodes that delve into plumbing solutions, water reuse and their vital role in preserving the world’s water supply.

A series of engaging webinars were also organized by the Code Council to further foster discussions around water conservation.

ICC Learn Live Events

The Code Council hosted several ICC Learn Live events throughout the campaign. These events included webinars entitled: 

• Water Matters: The Windsor Declaration and Global Solutions for Water Scarcity 
• How Will Model Codes Need to Change to Promote Water Reuse 
• Water Research and Technology Water Management, Conservation, and Efficiency 
• Global Water Solutions – Backflow prevention, Water reuse, Leak detection, Water efficiency labelling and global water reuse dialogue. 

The first webinar, held on March 5, focused on the transformative Windsor Declaration, a global initiative uniting bathroom manufacturers, trade associations and certification bodies to tackle the pressing issue of water scarcity. Tom Roberts, the Code Council’s Global Director – PMG spoke with Tom Reynolds, Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association and discussed how the Declaration’s commitment to water efficiency and sustainable innovation is already driving meaningful change and a new focus of antimicrobial resistance and the role that the plumbing industry plays in this area.

In the second webinar, held on March 13, key members of the Code Council’s PMG Team delved into how today’s national model codes contain provisions that encourage water conservation, but fall short when it comes to promoting water reuse. It explored the current provisions for water reuse and identified some necessary changes to model codes that will help eliminate barriers, making them stronger advocates for water reuse.

The third webinar, held on March 20, explored research focused on sustainable infrastructure development, particularly in water management, efficiency and conservation with the University of Miami. It provided an overview of the WISE tool, water reuse strategies and applications, as well as the challenges hindering their widespread adoption, and the 2021 International Water Conservation Code Provisions® (IWCCP).

In the final webinar, held on March 27, Tom Roberts showcased interviews with subject matter experts across Australia, the UK, the U.S. and the Netherlands, offering a global perspective on critical topics like leak detection, water efficiency, backflow prevention and water recycling. The international insights shared in the webinar highlighted innovative solutions for producing, conserving and reusing our most precious resource – drinking water.

Learn more about the International Code Council’s World Water Awareness campaign, here.