Plumbing as we know it today didn’t really become standardized until the 19th century, when people began clamoring for better water and waste disposal systems. However, the concept of plumbing actually began thousands of years ago, when the ancient Romans, Greeks, Chinese, Persians and Indians began designing and building public baths to allow civilians access to potable water. But whatever convenience we now enjoy in our plumbing systems, we probably owe in large part to the ancient Roman plumbers. In fact, the term plumbing is sourced from the Latin word ‘plumbus’, which means lead, a common material used in pipes in the ancient world.
Perhaps one of the earliest evidence of the skill of ancient plumbers was the system of aqueducts found in Crete, in the Minoan Palace. The system of pipes and drainage was carefully planned and executed using terracotta pipes laid under the floors. It piped in hot and cold water for faucets and fountains. Water was also used to flush toilets in the latrines, which showed that people back then already appreciated the safety and convenience offered by good plumbing.
In the 16th century, the ‘washout’ closet was invented by an Englishman, Sir John Harrington. It wasn’t exactly a revolution, considering it worked on a similar principle as the flushing toilet found in Knossos. It would take two centuries later for another Englishman to invent and patent an early version of the modern toilet. From then on, the art and science of plumbing has improved immensely.
Today, the system of pipes that helped build civilization is a highly regularized industry, owing to the fact that it has a significant effect on public health and welfare. The materials used to build a water and drainage system have also improved significantly, thanks to new research and technology that has made it possible for people to live a civilized, convenient life.