The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), the public charity of IAPMO, will lead a new IWSH Community Plumbing Challenge this summer to upgrade critical plumbing infrastructure at Los Angeles Mission, a nonprofit serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness in downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Mission supports more than 1,000 people each day, providing access to meals, showers, restrooms and safe water. However, aging plumbing systems marked by frequent leaks, drainage backups and inefficient fixtures have placed strain on daily operations and risked service interruptions for vulnerable community members. Reliable, professionally installed plumbing is essential to ensuring uninterrupted access to clean water and sanitation.

Through this Community Plumbing Challenge, IWSH is mobilizing skilled volunteer plumbers and working alongside Southern California labor organizations, while leveraging the codes, standards and technical expertise of IAPMO to deliver targeted upgrades throughout the Mission’s main building. The project reflects a shared legacy of service and public health leadership as IAPMO marks its 100th year advancing safe, sustainable plumbing systems and IWSH approaches its 10th year. Planned improvements include replacing aging fixtures like toilets and sinks; addressing critical repairs; and improving overall system performance. Every upgrade prioritizes water efficiency, code compliance and long-term durability.

“Plumbing is essential infrastructure for public health, dignity and stability,” said Robyn Fischer, IWSH senior director for North America. “By bringing together skilled plumbers, quality products and thoughtful project design, grounded in the IAPMO ecosystem, this Community Plumbing Challenge will help Los Angeles Mission focus on what it does best, supporting people on their path out of homelessness, while ensuring the systems behind the walls are safe, reliable and built to last.”

IWSH Community Plumbing Challenges are intentionally small in scale but designed for large, replicable impact. Each project serves as a blueprint, demonstrating how focused investments in skilled labor and quality products can strengthen community organizations, reduce operational costs, and improve health outcomes.