9781422271476

1 Chapter

What Do Plumbing Workers Do?

Plumbing and the Modern World Clean drinking water. Quick disposal of human waste. A long, hot shower. These are just a few things we can take for granted in our modern world. But not everyone enjoys easy access to clean water and quality sanitation services. In fact, one in 10 people worldwide does not have access to clean water, and an estimated 2.5 billion people (or 35 percent of the world’s population) lack basic sanitation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Poor sanitation systems, or a complete lack of them, can result in the growth and transfer of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are found in human waste. Fecal matter can contaminate water, soil, and food, and can cause diarrhea (one of the biggest killers of children in developing countries). Unsanitary disposal of this kind of waste leads to serious diseases, such as cholera, which kills as many as 143,000 people each year. We can thank plumbers for ensuring that we have easy access to clean water and sanitation systems that quickly remove our waste from homes, schools, businesses, and factories. A career in plumbing

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