WASHINGTON, D.C. — The IAPMO Group and Plumbing Manufacturers International have issued a statement supporting the House Science, Space and Technology Committee for advancing legislation reauthorizing the National Institute of Standards and Technology and calling for the creation of a program for plumbing research.
During a recent committee mark-up of the bill, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) was successful in offering an amendment to H.R. 4609, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the Future Act of 2021, that would authorize funding at NIST to conduct research on water systems within homes and buildings, addressing issues such as water quality, efficiency, reuse, sustainability and resilience, stated a release.
The water systems advocates said a new program at NIST will help to combat a 900 per cent increase in Legionnaires disease since 2000.
Another issue that will be addressed by NIST research is the sizing of plumbing systems in buildings. It is widely recognized that today’s plumbing systems are often oversized, the advocates said, resulting in increased building costs, wasted water and energy, and declining water quality. The research will seek to address the problem.
“From the exponential growth of Legionnaires disease outbreaks to increasing housing affordability, the industry is waiting and ready to apply the findings of this research to tackle major issues,” said International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials CEO Dave Viola. “We applaud Rep. Tonko and other committee members for recognizing this need and including it in this important piece of legislation. This will have a direct, positive impact on America’s homes and buildings today and for the foreseeable future.”
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