A Winnipeg group that helps people with barriers to employment get on-the-job training is closing in on a major milestone.

Building Urban Industries for Local Development, or BUILD, is a non-profit contracting and training group that helps people who have difficulty finding work — either due to language barriers, past convictions or other issues — gain trade skills.

On Friday, BUILD employees helped install water-saving toilets in a seniors’ apartment block to mark World Water Day.

The group began installing water-efficient toilets and showers in inner-city homes in 2006. By the end of 2013, the program will have seen 9,500 local installations.

Provincial officials said the water saved from installing the toilets is 1.7 billion litres, enough to fill 700 Olympic-sized pools.

And the toilets being replaced aren’t tossed out — the group delivers the old toilets to be recycled into ingredients for asphalt and countertops.

Robert Katyrynuik manages water retrofits for BUILD, and said the program is a win-win for the environment and the workers.

“They are prepared to come to work and prepared to do any kind of work,” he said.

“I see myself in all the males and females who come through this program.”

Cyrus Shorting is one of the people earning on-the-job training installing the water-efficient appliances.

“If it was not for BUILD, I don’t know where I would be right now,” said Shorting.

In three years, the father of two will be a journeyman plumber.

“I got job security now. I will always have a job in plumbing. I know I will always be making better money.”