The Pipeline: June 23, 2026
Hi there,
Welcome to this week's edition of The Pipeline. Here's what's flowing this week to keep you informed and entertained!
🔦 Fun Fact
The trap under every fixture is doing one job you never see: holding a plug of water that blocks sewer gas from drifting back into the room. Lose that water seal — through evaporation, siphonage, or back-pressure — and the trap is just a decorative bend in the pipe. That's the whole reason venting exists in the code: it equalizes pressure so the water seal stays put instead of getting sucked or blown out. When the exam asks why a fixture needs a vent, the honest answer is "to protect a couple inches of water you'll never look at."
😆 Laugh of the Day
Why did the apprentice bring a code book to the poker table?
He wanted to know the minimum size on a straight.
💧 EPA Floats More Time on the PFOA/PFOS Water Rules
On May 18, the EPA proposed giving public water systems extra runway on the federal PFOA and PFOS limits — pushing the compliance window out to 2031 for systems that request it, rather than forcing the original timeline. The agency's reasoning is practical: utilities need time to test, plan, and install treatment, and stretching it out may bring equipment costs down. There's a virtual hearing July 7 and written comments are open through July 20. For plumbers, the medium-term read is more retrofit and treatment work as systems eventually upgrade...
🔁 California Tightens Up Backflow Tester Certification July 1
If you test backflow assemblies in California, the rules change July 1, 2026: testers and cross-connection control specialists have to be certified through a program recognized by the State Water Resources Control Board, and by July 1, 2027 those programs need ANSI accreditation. Recognized bodies right now include CA-NV AWWA, ABPA, and ASSE 5110. Certification means a training course, written and hands-on exams, and renewal every three years. If your old county-issued cert is what's been carrying you, this is the week to check whether it still counts...
🌍 The World Plumbing Council Conference Lands in the UK This Week
The trade goes global June 23–25: the World Plumbing Council Conference 2026 is on at the NEC in Birmingham, England — the first time it's been hosted in the UK since 1990 — under the theme "Worldwide problems, global solutions." IAPMO is the welcome sponsor, and the agenda leans into water scarcity, reuse, and the workforce crunch that isn't just an American problem. It's a good reminder that the systems you size and the codes you study are part of a much bigger picture: clean water and safe drainage are a worldwide fight...
We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of The Pipeline. Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, keep the pipes flowing! 🔧💧
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