Partner Highlight: How Plumbers See Water’s Place in The World

BROTHERSON AT THE LOCAL 1 FACILITY IN LONG ISLAND CITY.

When Mellissa Brotherson, a highly accomplished Journeyman Plumber with UA Local Union 1, began her education, she was surprised by how prevalent water is in the built environment, but also how little people seem to notice it.

Beginning her career in construction as a non-union member, Brotherson decided to enter the plumbing industry through UA Local Union 1 because of the challenging work involved. She explored welding and became the fastest Local 1 apprentice on record to attain a UA welding qualification. Brotherson’s talent was obvious; she was chosen as the first Local 1 welder to be sent to the UA Apprentice Competition, and became an instructor prior to graduation.

Brotherson explains she was fascinated by the profession because water is used by everyone but few consider how it is used in buildings. From the perspective of a plumber, understanding how water travels through a building is like being able to see an X-ray of a building. Arthur Klock Jr., Director of Trade Education at Local 1, said, “most people look at walls and see something solid. When I look at a wall, I see space filled with some of the most interesting parts of a building.”

Plumbers also see past water’s first use, re-using water when possible. At Local 1’s facilities in Long Island City, the potential of re-usable water is demonstrated throughout the space.

The roof of the building is “the beginning and end of the story,” says Klock. That’s where rainwater is captured for use throughout the building. The harvested rainwater is used to grow blueberries on the roof which in turn get sold, with part of the earnings being shared by union members. (Blueberries were chosen because they are lightweight and don’t require a lot of water in comparison to other plants.) 

Harvested rainwater is also used in a fountain that’s a focal point at the facility’s entrance. In addition, toilets in the building use harvested rainwater as opposed to potable drinking water. 

But what about buildings that can’t utilize water in these ways? Klock suggests five simple tips individuals can use to reduce water waste: 

LOCAL 1’S ROOF, WHICH WILL SOON BE HOME TO FRESH BLUEBERRIES.

• Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth;

• Stop using your toilet as a wastebasket. Every time you flush your toilet, you are also flushing away gallons of water which burdens both the water supply system as well as wastewater treatment facilities;

• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator, putting a stop to the practice of running tap water until it feels cool enough to drink;

• Change your showerhead to a low-flow model, which has the potential to reduce the amount of water used as well as cut down on carbon emissions from heating the water;

• When replacing any plumbing faucets or fixtures, look for the WaterSense label from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Models with this label are designed to operate correctly and create the desired effect that consumers expect when using a fixture while reducing the amount of water wasted.

The need for water is everywhere in our lives, but it is our job to help make sure we aren’t wasting it. At Local 1, plumbers learn to visualize and appreciate how water travels through a building; maybe we can all benefit a bit from looking at our homes and offices from the perspective of a plumber.