March 11 is a bit of a strange day. It’s Johnny Appleseed Day, Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day and World Sleep Day. More importantly, it’s also World Plumbing Day.

Look at November 19 and you’ll see that there are many fun days celebrated on that date also, including Mother Goose Day, National Day of Play and Rocky and Bullwinkle Day. However, it’s also World Toilet Day, which has a much more serious element.

What do these two “bathroom days” have in common? Even though they’re separated by several months on the calendar, they both strive to focus attention on the need for improved sanitation around the world. Developing countries in particular have insufficient or non-existing plumbing, leading to illness and death.

According to the World Health Organization, 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe water supplies and 2.5 billion people do not have access to improved sanitation. The World Toilet Day organization reports that improved sanitation can enhance nutrition and improved health.

At Mansfield Plumbing, we applaud the efforts of leaders at the World Plumbing Council and the United Nations for shining a spotlight on the needs for improved sanitation conditions throughout the world.