Protecting Water Quality and Public Health Through Harmonization

July 9, 2026

By Kerry Stackpole

Last month, I had the privilege of attending the annual business conference of our longstanding partner to the north, the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH). The conference offered an outstanding program and an opportunity for me to serve as a panelist with our fellow industry friends. Their generous hospitality and the many pleasant conversations I had with fellow participants throughout the meeting prompted me to reflect on the incredible partnership and wonderful camaraderie between our two associations.

This reflection made me realize that, over the past decade, I have witnessed one of the most important, yet often-overlooked success stories in North American public policy and industry collaboration: the continued harmonization of plumbing codes, standards, and product requirements between Canada and the United States.

While debates about trade, regulation, and economic competitiveness often dominate headlines, the practical work of aligning plumbing requirements across our two countries has quietly delivered enormous benefits to manufacturers, regulators, installers, building owners, and, most importantly, the citizens who depend every day on safe drinking water and reliable sanitation systems.

The objective of safe, responsible plumbing has not changed

The fundamental objective of safe, responsible plumbing has not changed in more than a century: protect public health. What has changed is the complexity of the systems, technologies, and regulatory environments that support that objective. As our societies have become more interconnected, the need for regulatory alignment has become increasingly important.

Over the last 10 years, Plumbing Manufacturers International and CIPH have worked together to reduce unnecessary differences between Canadian and U.S. requirements, in partnership with industry leaders, standards development organizations, testing agencies, code officials, manufacturers, and government representatives. This collaboration has produced significant improvements in product certification, performance standards, water efficiency requirements, and safety expectations. In many areas, products can now be designed, tested and certified to meet the needs of both markets more efficiently than ever before. The value of this harmonization extends far beyond reducing costs for manufacturers. When regulatory systems are aligned around sound science and proven engineering principles, innovation reaches the marketplace more quickly. New technologies that improve water conservation, enhance user safety, and increase system performance can be adopted with greater confidence.

Consumers benefit from broader product availability, while builders and contractors gain access to solutions that have been evaluated against consistent performance expectations.

The U.S. and Canada share public health priorities

Perhaps most importantly, harmonization strengthens our collective ability to protect drinking water quality. Waterborne disease prevention, backflow protection, scald prevention, lead reduction, and water efficiency are not uniquely Canadian or American challenges. They are shared public health priorities. The closer our standards and codes become, the more effectively we can address emerging risks while maintaining the highest levels of public confidence in our plumbing systems. The next decade presents both significant opportunities and new challenges. Climate variability, aging infrastructure, population growth, and increasing water stress in many regions will place greater demands on plumbing systems than ever before. At the same time, technological advancements—including smart plumbing systems, connected devices, artificial intelligence, advanced leak detection, and real-time water quality monitoring—are rapidly transforming how buildings manage water.

What’s ahead for the CIPH/PMI partnership

To capitalize on these opportunities, the longstanding partnership of CIPH and PMI and our commitment to cross-border collaboration will only grow. What’s ahead for our partnership?

First, we should accelerate efforts to harmonize requirements governing emerging technologies. New innovations should not face unnecessary barriers created by differing regulatory interpretations when the underlying public health objectives are identical.

Second, standards development organizations and code bodies will do well to continue expanding participation from manufacturers, regulators, utilities, public health experts, and installers on both sides of the border. Diverse expertise produces stronger standards and more durable outcomes.

Third, we must invest in data and research. Future policy decisions regarding water efficiency, water quality, building performance, and sustainability should be grounded in sensible, pro-growth, science-based policies; objective evidence; and measurable outcomes. Shared research initiatives between Canadian and U.S. stakeholders can provide policymakers with the confidence needed to support harmonized approaches.

Finally, our industry must do a better job communicating the societal value of modern plumbing. Safe water delivery and sanitation remain among the greatest public health achievements in human history. PMI’s Rethink Water initiative is leading the way on educating users of the importance of water efficiency and high-performing products. As infrastructure challenges grow and public awareness of water issues increases, industry has an opportunity to demonstrate how harmonized standards contribute directly to health, safety, sustainability, and economic prosperity.

The past decade has shown what is possible when governments, regulators, and industry work together toward common objectives. The next decade should be defined not simply by maintaining harmonization, but by advancing it—creating a more resilient, innovative, and sustainable plumbing ecosystem that protects public health and clean water for future generations across North America. The success of that effort will depend on continued collaboration, mutual trust, and a shared recognition that safe water knows no borders.

Kerry Stackpole is the CEO and executive director of Plumbing Manufacturers International.