MEDIA ALERT
Jan. 30 in Flint Area: 300 UA Plumbers to Install Faucets and Supplies Donated by PMI Members
Who, What: In response to the drinking water crisis in Flint, Mich., members of Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) have donated hundreds of faucets and other plumbing supplies to be installed in residents’ homes by a team of 300 plumbers from local unions across the nation. The humanitarian effort is being coordinated by PMI and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry (UA). Both organizations have seen a generous response to a joint call-to-action issued to their members last week.
When/Where: Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016. Plumbers are expected to begin gathering as early as 7 a.m. at the UA Local 370 Union Hall, 5500 W. Pierson Road, Flushing, Mich., to gather the faucets and supplies, as well as Brita water filters provided by the state of Michigan, for the day’s work in houses and apartment buildings throughout the area impacted by the crisis. The hall will serve as headquarters throughout the day, and breakfast and lunch will be provided to the plumbers. The hall’s telephone number is 810-720-5243.
How/Why: The faucets and other plumbing supplies will be installed along with the water filters, which are designed to remove lead content from the water and make it drinkable. The types of faucets and other materials donated by PMI members American Standard Inc., BrassCraft Manufacturing Co., Delta Faucet Co., Fluidmaster Inc., Kohler Co., Moen Inc., and Speakman Co. are:
Kitchen sink faucets (8’ center set)
American Standard Inc.
Delta Faucet Co.
Kohler Co.
Moen Inc.
Speakman Co.18’ kitchen sink supplies
Fluidmaster Inc.5/8 O. D. compression x 3/8 O.D. compression. Straight chrome shut off valves for under kitchen sink
BrassCraft Manufacturing Co.5/8 O. D. compression x 3/8 O. D. compression Chrome angle shut off valves
BrassCraft Manufacturing Co.A PMI allied member – the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) – also contributed to the effort.
“PMI is proud to join with its members and the UA to put our vision of safe, responsible plumbing into action,” said Barbara C. Higgens, PMI CEO and executive director. “We appreciate the generosity of our members, the UA plumbers, IAPMO and everyone else that is helping to assure safe drinking water for the residents of the Flint area.”
About PMI
Plumbing Manufacturers International is the voluntary, not-for-profit international industry association of manufacturers of plumbing products, serving as the Voice of the Plumbing Industry. Member companies produce 90 percent of the nation’s plumbing products. As part of its mission, PMI advocates for plumbing product performance and innovation contributing to water savings, sustainability, public health and safety, and consumer satisfaction. For more information on PMI or its conferences, contact the organization at 1921 Rohlwing Road, Unit G, Rolling Meadows, IL, 60008; tel.: 847-481-5500; fax: 847-481-5501. Visit our website at www.safeplumbing.org.
Media contacts: Dawn Robinson, Plumbing Manufacturers International, who will be in Flint on Jan. 30.
Cell: 847-217-6848, [email protected]
Ray Valek, 708-352-8695, [email protected]
[…] MEDIA ALERT Jan. 30 in Flint Area: 300 UA Plumbers to Install Faucets and Supplies Donated by PMI Members Who, What: In response to the drinking water crisis in Flint, Mich., members of Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) have donated hundreds of faucets and other plumbing supplies to be installed in …read more […]
I suggest a SHORT-TERM remedy UNTIL all the facts are in as to the magnitude of this project. It is NOT LIMITED TO just the liquid product, alone.
My suggestion is SLEEVE-LINING. The process of inserting a clean piper in to the already-existing pipe, AFTER that pipe has been freed of enough corrosion to accommodate the insertion.
I remember Phillips Petroleum featuring this item about 25 years ago, but it only guaranteed the pipe for 15 years. Under the present circumstances, not too bad a deal, in terms of present needs. The point is to clean enough piping to insert the sleeves, to complete a circuit. Then proceed in similar fashion until the whole of Flint is done.
This is a copy of my 01-09-2016 e-mail to my niece:
“Am sending this along, as it has REFERENCE TO many of our communities, and their WATER NEEDS, OUTSIDE of keeping municipal supplies beyond pollution by FRACKING.
My SUGGESTION is to pique whether SLEEVE-LINING is a cost-effective OPTION?
Sleeve Lining is the insertion of a pipe section that is capable of functioning, and is slightly less than the inner diameter of the pipe involved.
The Purpose is to VASTLY REDUCE the cost of pipe replacement for what ever purpose the pipe was designated; usually water transmission, either as a water supply line, or storm water removal conduit. But as indicated below, sleeve lining IS TEMPORARY, and WILL need the full replacement in the future. Think band-aid approach.
For Flint, it’s NECESSARY to determine IF the pipes involved are TOO CRUSTED on the inside to permit a viable usage of sleeve lining.
Sleeve Lining was an option promoted by Phillips Petroleum as a NEW product about 25 years ago. Their commercial (at that time)featured Tampa, Florida as a municipality using this method for storm drainage. Now, the commercial stated the new sleeve would last 15 years, but A LOT of changes have come down the pike in the mean time.
As noted above, sleeve lining offers a “window-of-grace” as to its beneficial employment. Thus, as the sleeve lining is used, the unit of government HAS to set aside monies for the purpose of a COMPLETE RE-DO as to tearing up, and installing of water transmission piping. This HAS to be a PLANNED expenditure, one that would be stipulated for accomplishment by the successor(s).
It is hoped you will find this a useful suggestion.
Thomas J. Baglin
[email protected]‘
It is hoped you will benefit from this e-mail content.
01-09-2016″
Obviously you have not done your history. Are you aware how this whole situation began? Are you aware of the requirement of a ” master plumber” to make a “leaded connection” by state plumbing code? Irony?
To the Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry (UA) and the
Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI)…Fantastic!!!!!!!
Might it be possible to find funding to install RO systems in the affected homes? Would such devices take out lead and any other harmful heavy metals?
Just how much drinking water quality benefit/safety can be gained/ensured by replacing faucets, valves and supply lines if a home/structure’s supply plumbing is decades-old and leaching metals including Pb into the incoming supply?
No offense to the well intentioned generosity of suppliers and plumbers. But to use an election year-appropriate reference, this sounds a little bit like the water infrastructure equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig.. Like fixing a septic drain field while the tank remains full of solids ready to plug the field again?
Charles in WA
WW operator and inspector 27+ yrs.
m siwicki :
I thank you for your input, nut I am NOT a plumber. Thus, I am NOT familiar with plumbing codes in Michigan, your county, or the city involved.
Under the circumstances, it would SEEM that my suggestion(and that is ALL it is) would provide a meaningful process to reduce the upset of the situation.
It would ALSO seem QUITE APPROPOS for the STATE to have inspectors on site AS STUDENTS attending a technical high school, a/o college, PLUS taking plumbing, welding, a/o other applicable courses; would be pressed into service to remedy the matter to the satisfaction of the TAXPAYERS having their water system FAIL do to MUNICIPAL STUPIDITY.
In my town, a teacher at the local technical high school invented a news, better, and less fail-prone weld process. It was opposed by ALL the VESTED INTEREST parties that had something to lose. Took some time, but the new process has now prevailed.
In THIS case, the local GOVERMENTAL LEVELS, NEED to get smart, and get the INSPECTORS on site to oversee the sleeve-lining process.
HEALTH inspectors should be testing the water coming THROUGH the lined piping to certify that IF there is a change-over to Detroit’s system, then the population is safe from being poisoned by the local water supply.
From the news reports I have seen, This IS an EMERGENCY, and there is NO REASON for political jousting, or dawdling.
The order of Business SHOULD BE:
Switch to the Detroit supply system.
Sleeve-line those pipes that are capable, AT THIS TIME.
Tear out those pipes that are not capable of being sleeve-lined.
Properly dispose of those garbage pipes.
IMPRESS students of technical studies, and have them be certified by the state inspectors, as permitted, and then sleeve-line the pipes.
Award CERTIFICATIONS TO those students AFTER the project completed.
CONCURRENTLY, it IS the responsibility of the STATE to keep the MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM SAFE. OBVIOUSLY, the STATE FAILED. Thus, those officials must be punished. Both for the immediate occurrence, plus the latent problems that might arise from their bad management processing.
WATER IS a REQUIREMNET FOR all life on Earth. There IS no excuse for the conduct of officials involved.
Many times certain regulations are put in place for raison du temps. Likewise, many ARE KEPT well beyond the era of usefulness. One such restriction would be the use of PVC piping for HOT WATER. NOT a good choice. That IS a good prohibition. However, to demand COPPER piping(by civil government) for ALL plumbing is beyond the capabilities of most home buyers / owners. Thus, PVC IS a viable CHOICE for the COLD WATER usage. But, SOME municipalities STILL want all-copper plumbing.
AS for paying for it, the better option is TAX REDUCTIONS over a long period of TIME. OR, such reductions could be crashed at a faster rate, ala DEPRECIATION, as one would do for business tax reasons.
Point is: The STATE strikes me as trying to SIDE-STEP its role in the scheme. Perhaps recalling “The Gov.,” might be effective?
Thomas J. Baglin
[email protected]
03-23-2016