Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating Celebrates Earth Day with the Launch of Because Water Matters Website

New website will educate Canadians about the crucial role plumbing plays in water conservation and our day-to-day lives

TORONTO, April 19, 2012 /CNW/ - This Sunday marks the 42^nd anniversary of Earth Day: a day when we celebrate our planet by focusing on the environmental awareness and conservation that will shape a more sustainable future.

However, it's been over four decades since the first Earth Day and, surprisingly, many Canadian are still misinformed about the huge impact simple plumbing changes can have with respect to water conservation. As an example, a recent survey¹ by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH), a not-for-profit trade association representing Canada's manufacturers and wholesaler distributers of plumbing and hydronic heating products, revealed:

• Half of Canadians would select a showerhead with high-pressure over one with high-efficiency;
• Nearly 4 in 10 Canadians still leave the water running while brushing their teeth;
• Most Canadians underestimate the annual water savings gained switching to a high-efficiency toilet by more than 17,000 L per annum².

That's why CIPH is launching Because Water Matters, a website created to: educate Canadians about the crucial role plumbing plays in water conservation; and highlight trends and technology in the plumbing industry.

"Most Canadians know what changes they need to make to be more water efficient in the home," says Ralph Suppa, president and general manager of CIPH, "but our survey uncovered a gap between principle and practice. At CIPH, we surmise several reasons for this trend: in the case of high-efficiency plumbing products such as showerheads and toilets, there's often a misconception that the sustainable choice has performance tradeoffs. Another misconception lies in the public underestimating the amount of water than can be saved by efficient plumbing products. Most simple plumbing changes can literally save tens of thousands of litres each year."

Because Water Matters contains facts and figures about water usage, in addition to tips and trivia to get Canadians thinking about plumbing and wise-water behavioural changes. The site will also feature CIPH-produced videos showcasing technology and trends in the plumbing industry. The first video, developed for Earth Week, is online now and can be viewed by clicking here.

"Our goal is to shatter misconceptions and bridge the gap between principle and practice when it comes to sustainable water use in Canada," adds Ralph.  "Water has always been of paramount importance to our members and through Because Water Matters, we can share their passion for all things plumbing with Canadians and make a real difference for the environment."

To learn more about Because Water Matters, visit www.ciph.com/becausewatermatters and follow the CIPH Twitter stream (@CIPHNews) for website updates and other plumbing news.

The first Because Water Matters Video, Earth Week, is available now on  http://ciph.com/becausewatermatters/videos.php and on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3BU_r0GIwA.

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¹Poll conducted between March 2 to 5^th, 2012 by Ipsos Reid on behalf of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating. A sample of 1,014 Canadians was interviewed with replies weighted to reflect a sample composition of the Canadian population according to Census data. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to error. 
²Environment Canada, family of four

About the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating:
The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating is a not-for-profit trade association. Founded in 1933, the Institute is a vibrant organization committed to providing members with the tools for success in today's competitive environment. More than 260 companies are members of this influential Canadian industry association. They are the manufacturers, wholesaler distributors, master distributors, manufacturers' agents and allied companies who manufacture and distribute plumbing, hydronic heating, industrial, waterworks and other mechanical products. CIPH wholesaler distributors operate more than 700 warehouses and showrooms across Canada. Total industry sales exceed $5 billion annually. For more information, visit www.ciph.com.

For further information:

or to arrange an interview with a CIPH spokesperson contact:
Maximilian Nchama
Cohn & Wolfe
647-259-3269
[e-mail]