The plumbing industry in Australia is facing an unprecedented period of change to meet the challenge of climate change and water shortages, the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) said this week.
MPMSAA Executive Director Ray Herbert said that the organisation for the past five years had been undertaking Australia's singularly largest environmental training program in response to climate change through its Green Plumbers program.
"We believe all Governments will move towards mandated water efficiency audits for all new homes and those for sale as part of occupancy requirements and the plumbing industry is already providing water audits for many home owners," Mr Herbert said.
"The training program, the result of consumer research showing people wanted environmental solutions and advice from plumbers, has resulted in some 5000 trained Green Plumbers and 2400 accredited businesses across Australia."
The installation of water tanks, water efficient toilets and showerheads, and an increasing number of grey water and recycled water systems will result in a major boost of training and professional development within the plumbing industry.
Mr Herbert said that the success of water reform long term will rely to a great extent on the quality of the work being carried out and the ability of governments to ensure the integrity of licensed and trained plumbing certification of work being carried out.
"Illegal plumbing in some cases can become an expensive unbudgeted cost for home owners who need to have it rectified, especially where it involves the installation of grey water and water tanks. It can become a health hazard for home owners unless it is carried out by registered and professionally trained plumbers."
Mr Herbert said that one of the fundamental issues facing Australia is the replacement of some three million water wasting toilets that flush billions of litres of precious drinking water annually down the drain. The older toilets use 13 litres of water per single flush compared with modern toilets using between 4.5 litres for a full flush and 3 litres for a half flush; a water saving of over 75 per cent per toilet.
