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July 2014 ForResidentialPros.com | 29 By Kristina Diggins-Reisinger Charitable Endeavors S afe sanitation is something many Americans take for granted. However, sanita- tion is an ongoing problem in many parts of the world. There are areas where clean water and safe waste removal are enor- mously problematic, creating health crises worldwide. American Standard Brands, in an efort to do its part, announced its support of Team USA in the WorldSkills Foundation's inaugu- ral Water Innovation Challenge in Singapore. This event joined international teams of young plumbers and engineers in a se- ries of hands-on design challenges aimed at improving the quality of life, health, hygiene and sanitation in developing countries. Throughout three days of in- tense competition, teams developed a series of real and innovative solutions for the emerging water and sanitation problems in two targeted countries: Nepal and Bangladesh. The goal of the competition was to raise awareness of this global crisis caused by a lack of clean water and safe sanitation facilities worldwide. The competition – held June 3-5, 2014 at the Institute of Technical Education – coincided with Singapore International Water Week. Douglas Nelson of the Milwaukee School of Engineer- ing headed Team USA. The Team used the SaTo hygienic toilet pan, invented by American Standard engineers, as the basis for the sanitation solutions participants created at the competition. The SaTo sanitary toilet pan, unveiled in early 2013, was designed specifcally to work without sewer infrastructure in rural communities in Bangladesh. The SaTo uses simple mechanical and water seals to close of pit latrines from the open air, thereby reducing the transmission of disease and odor. At the Water Innovation Challenge, Team USA used the SaTo as a key component in creating a composting toilet system that will produce fertilizer for crops. The team was also responsible for creating installation instructions without using words or numbers, ensuring that their sys- tem can be easily installed by anyone, regardless of their language or literacy. Jay Gould, president and CEO of American Standard Brands said, "It is an inspiration to us all to see these young plumbers and engineers put their skills to use develop- ing sanitation systems that can save lives and improve quality of life around the world. We are proud to support Team USA in the Water Innovation Challenge and look forward to seeing the design advance- ments they create during this competition." Products created during the competition will be imple- mented by the winning team in the WSF Sanitation Studio program, which was created as a partnership between Australian NGO Healthabitat and WSF. Design toolkits cre- ated by all teams will be made available for other NGOs to use in their own plumbing and sanitation work. INCREASE AWARENESS Currently, 2.5 billion people in the world lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. Every day, 2,000 children die from diseases caused by lack of a proper sanitation system. The United Nations has set a 2015 Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half the proportion of people who lack access to basic sanitation, as well as safe drinking water. Coinciding with the creation of the SaTo, American Standard Brands launched its Flush for Good campaign, which is aimed at increasing awareness of the global sani- tation crisis and creating innovative solutions to help stop it. As part of that program, the company donated over 530,000 SaTo sanitary toilet pans in 2013 to help reduce the transmission of disease and provide a safer sanitation system in Bangladesh. Last year, American Standard announced an ofcial Commitment to Action with the Clinton Global Initiative, pledging to improve sanitation systems, as well as the quality of life, for three million people around the globe between 2014 and 2017. Including the 2.5 million resi- dents of Bangladesh receiving safer sanitation assistance during 2013 and 2014, American Standard will reach an estimated 5.5 million people by 2017, the frm notes. Bath Company Supports Competition For Safe Sanitation While the business of kitchen and bath design can be com- plex and multifaceted, it remains a universal truth that consumers prefer to patronize companies that care about more than just the bottom line. Dealers, designers and manu- facturers that are active in giving back tend to build stronger bonds with their community, and set an example for others. As such, Kitchen and Bath Design News' Charitable Endeavors department spotlights companies' efforts to give back to the community. This month's Charitable Endeavors looks at a competition geared toward the implementation of safe sanitation in several impoverished countries. Monolith is the perfect replacement toilet for your next bathroom remodel. The Geberit Monolith takes a traditional toilet and raises it to the next level – delivering performance and beauty to your clients. Remodeling a bathroom? Think Tank: Think Geberit Monolith. Get free information now including our new brochure. Visit →geberit.us. The Monolith tank is here, hidden in a streamlined, glass housing. There is no unsightly gap behind Monolith because it "hugs" the wall. The Monolith tank is the most advanced in the world – one-piece, insulated, guaranteed never to leak. There is no awkward chain or fapper in the Monolith tank – just our advanced, Geberit dual-fush valve. Every Monolith bowl is an elongated, ADA bowl that fts in the same space you use for a traditional toilet. Monolith fts the same rough-in as any standard toilet. Circle No. 16 on Product Card Team USA's winning design was based on American Standard Brands' SaTo sanitary toilet pan. KBD_26-29_Charity.indd 29 6/16/14 3:30 PM