Two Days in October Remind Us Why Water is So Important

People shouldn’t need a special day on the calendar to be reminded why water is so important, but October has two of them: Global Handwashing Day (Oct. 15) and Imagine a Day Without Water (Oct. 23).

Each day celebrates water in its own way, and each day reminds us at Sloan why we’ve made water-saving technology a priority. Fresh water is the world’s most valuable natural resource. The planet has all the fresh water it’s ever going to have, and every living thing needs it to survive.

Here’s a closer look at two of our favorite days.

Global Handwashing Day Prevents Diseases and Saves Lives

Handwashing has been proven to significantly reduce potential pathogens, but according to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, people don’t wash their hands often or thoroughly enough.

That’s why, every year on Global Handwashing Day, millions of people in more than 100 countries promote the simple, lifesaving act of washing their hands with soap and water. This year’s theme, “Clean Hands for All” addresses the inequalities in handwashing facilities that can put individuals at higher risk for disease.

We’re proud to support Global Handwashing Day because there’s no easier, more effective way to prevent disease and save lives. And our technology makes handwashing even more hygienic.

For instance, we make only touchless, sensor-operated faucets because the parts of manual faucets that people touch can become a breeding ground for germs. We pair these faucets with matching sensor-activated soap dispensers, and you can even combine a faucet, soap dispenser, and hand dryer into a single, hygienic, touch-free unit with our peerless AER-DEC® integrated sink system.

Imagine a Day Without Water? We Wish We Didn’t Have To.

What better way to make people recognize the value of water than to imagine a day without all the things that water makes possible?

This is the fifth year the Value of Water Campaign has asked the world to “Imagine a Day Without Water,” and more organizations than ever before have joined in. Schools host essay and art contests, cities issue official proclamations, utilities partner with businesses, and social media users get the message out to millions of people worldwide.

According to the campaign’s website, that message is, “Many Americans take water for granted every day. Imagine a Day Without Water 2019 is the fifth annual day to raise awareness and educate America about the value of water.”

We’ve been happy to share that message ourselves. Our 2018 infographic depicted some of what we’d miss without water, from household annoyances—no showers! no coffee!—to consequences that would cripple society as we know it, such as power plants shutting down and hospitals being unable to treat patients.

Those imaginary consequences are already realities for too many parts of the world. We hope imagining a day without water will inspire more people and organizations to save water and, whenever possible, design for sustainability.

Want sensible, stylish water-saving solutions for your next commercial restroom design? Talk to Sloan!