History of Plumbing

When it comes to a subject like plumbing, occasionally it is interesting to get an overview of the subject. With that in mind, we give you the role of plumbing through the evolution of society.

The word plumbing derives from the Latin word for lead, plumbum. Plumbing is a skilled trade that works with pipes, tubing, and plumbing fixtures that are designed to provide potable water and to drain waste. Plumbing dates back to the earliest civilizations. The Romans, Persians, Indians, and Chinese all had rudimentary plumbing systems. They were often involved with the supply of water and waste removal was haphazard at best. It was in the palaces of the rulers that some of the earliest examples of indoor plumbing were found. The common people were pretty much on their own.

It was not that people did not desire comfort and privacy when performing basic functions. Archaeologists in China recently unearthed a 2,000 year old toilet in a tomb built for an Emperor. It was complete with running water, a stone seat, and a comfortable armrest. Of course, since it was in a tomb, it was intended for use after his death. There were really very little improvements in plumbing methods and materials for centuries. A relative of Queen Elizabeth made an attempt to manufacture a “privy” that would provide the Queen Mother with a little dignity and privacy, but he became a laughing stock as a result of his efforts. Another two hundred years would pass before more serious attempts would be made.

The invention of the flush toilet is widely assumed to be the work of one Thomas Crapper who was a London plumber in the 19th century. While it was true that he did patent several plumbing inventions, and headed a shop that produced, among other things, toilets, other men had actually done the real inventing before he came along. In World War I, American doughboys in England saw the name of Crapper’s shop on toilets around London. They coined the term “crapper”, and it has stuck especially in the military.

It was not until the mid 19th century that public sanitation, the need for potable water, the proper elimination of waste, and even the regular habit of bathing became common. It may have been because of the realization of the connection between unsanitary conditions and disease. The discovery of bacteria and the understanding of their role in diseases that had been killing people since the dawn of time may have been the catalyst that spurred the growth of plumbing. It may have just been that its time had arrived along with the other technological advances that have led us into a new edge.

Plumbing was certainly a growth industry during that Golden age when the civilized world was converting from no plumbing to full plumbing. Between the years of 1928 and 1954, the sales of plumbing products and water heating equipment went from 498 million dollars a year to a staggering 2.33 billion dollars a year. Now, potable or safe water is required by law in most developed nations. Proper sanitation and the safe removal of waste is the accepted norm. Plumbing has become a symbol of civilization, and retains its place among the ranks of the skilled professions of the world.

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