Interesting Story of the History of Indoor Plumbing

We tend not to think too much about our plumbing until it isn’t working, but have you ever really thought about how plumbing started? Do you wonder what it looked like then, as opposed to what it looks like now in modern-day Evansville, IN?

Do you wonder what it looked like then, as opposed to what it looks like now in modern-day Evansville, IN? Here is a snapshot of the evolution of indoor plumbing over the last few thousand years.

The Early History of Indoor Plumbing

As far back as 6000 B.C., Mesopotamians were moving water from the river for use in their “homes” showing that humans have long had the idea of having water on hand for our convenience. Archeologists pinpointed what may have been the first plumbing pipes to a few centuries later in the ruins of a place in what is known today as India.

These pipes serviced bathrooms that had drains. In the not too distant future in Crete, the first flush toilet was invented by the subjects of King Minos. Also constructed under King Minos’ reign was a rain-harvesting system that incorporated underground drainage.

Next- Rome and Egypt

The Egyptians are noteworthy in plumbing history because of the sturdy and complex construction of bathrooms in the pyramids. Even in this ancient era, they built bathrooms with irrigation and drainage.

They also built replicas of these complete bathrooms in their tombs for the dead. They believed that the dead needed to have access to the same comforts that they had when they were alive.

The Romans are noteworthy because of their impressive aqueduct system. The construction spanned hundreds of years, and eventually hundreds of miles. The system of lead pipes drew fresh water to the bathhouses. They even heated the water using furnaces. These bathhouses featured steam rooms and wastewater removal.

Versailles: Lots of Rooms no Toilets

When you think of Marie Antoinette and her era of extravagance, you would think that she would have had all of the modern conveniences at Versailles. However, there wasn’t a single indoor toilet.

This was problematic, to say the least, given that there were thousands of people in the palace at any given time. They had to use latrines and commodes. The story goes that it was very common for people to use hallways or the outdoor courtyards, which made it very smelly.

As Plumbing Moves Into the Future

Indoor plumbing now isn’t just about comfort and convenience. It is about being able to choose a solution that lets you be eco-friendly and also reduce your water bills.

For example, dual flush toilets let you significantly reduce your household water use (did you know that a traditional toilet grabs 30 percent of your home’s water use?). Its technology lets the user decide how much water to dispense (less water for liquid, more water for solid), hence conserving water.