The IWSH World Plumbing Day Essay Contest is an annual scholarship essay competition organized by the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), a public charity of IAPMO. The contest awards $5,000 in total scholarships: a $2,000 first-place prize and three $1,000 second-place prizes. Each year, the contest poses a new essay prompt related to global water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges. The 2026 topic asks: "Why should the government and private sector come together to provide improved access to safe sanitation services?" Essays should explore how government-private sector collaboration addresses water and sanitation challenges, cite successful partnerships, propose new ideas, or discuss community resilience through infrastructure improvements. The contest typically attracts over 200 entries from students worldwide. Winning essays are published in IAPMO's Official magazine, providing exposure to industry leaders.
Checked November 3, 2026: the official contest page confirms the 2026 contest is closed and says the 2027 topic will be announced in spring 2027. No 2027 submission date is published there. The 2026 rules verify the historical April 30, 2026 deadline at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. The topic and requirements above describe that historical cycle.