Andy Watts Receives WPC’s Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize the efforts of an individual or organization that has contributed to the mission of the World Plumbing Council (WPC). Watts, who held the office of WPC secretary from 1996-2008, is only the third individual to be honored with the award since the WPC was founded in 1990. (Previous winners are both past chairman of the WPC; Geoff Marsh, the inaugural chairman from 1990-93, in 2005, and Bob Kreutzer, chairman from 1993-96, in 2008.)
Watts was the driving force behind the WPC forging a close working relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO) and subsequent joint publishing in 2006 of Health Aspects of Plumbing, a critically important document that illustrates the important work done by the plumbing industry to ensure public health and safety.
A major contributor to the plumbing industry for more than four decades, Watts first gained notoriety with his appointment as a staff member of the Registered Plumbers Association (RPA) in 1966. Then in 1971, Watts was appointed executive director of the Institute of Plumbing, which merged with the RPA the previous year. He served that body, subsequently known as the Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering and now as the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering, for 35 years.
In 1994, Watts was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) for his years of service and dedication to England’s plumbing industry.
“His long standing commitment to his organization remains as a model for those of us who serve as chief executives of plumbing industry organizations,” said Chaney, CEO of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, during the award presentation. “His contributions in the United Kingdom, as well as abroad, will serve to motivate others in our industry to achieve their very best.”