The chronological history of indoor plumbing depicts its prevalence from the very 4000 B.C. Since then, it passed through modifications with the arrival of each age till date. The indoor plumbing that we have today is just the modern extension of plumbing whose history stretches aeons back.
It can be helpful to trace out its roots to see how much of an extensive history it encompasses. We have come up with a guide to briefly discuss the important phases of this plumbing’s invention. Keep scrolling to read further;
Was Indoor Plumbing Common in the Indus Valley Civilization?
The Indus Valley culture was extremely advanced for its time. It wouldn’t be inaccurate to suggest that they were the forerunners of indoor plumbing. The civilization had proper planning for the drainage of wastewater. They did that by using the drain ditches which were present around the avenue of every city. These ditches played a really important role in making sure that the waste water did not accumulate in the city. It also served as a channel to take the drain water from every home to the city avenue pipes to form a collective sewerage system.
The reason behind the valley’s preference for underground tunnels:
Underground tunnels were the key structure in the vast design of indoor plumbing in the Indus Valley civilization. These tunnels took the wastewater of the whole city and then disposed of it in the main pipe of the city’s sewerage system. One thing that is unique about these tunnels is that they were designed in a way that could easily prevent water from backflowing. The expertise that it reflects depicts the civilization’s advancement and a keen interest in maintaining hygiene. This is why Indus Valley’s unbelievably smart plumbing techniques around 4000 B.C. to 3000 B.C. still leave the person in awe.
How Did Egyptian Civilization Modify Indoor Plumbing?
The Egyptian civilization also contributed to the advancement of this kind of plumbing. It was inevitable because Egypt relied on the River Nile for all its trade and commute. The same river was also responsible for nurturing the state’s agricultural growth. For this reason, they used to dig canals and irrigation ditches. This was how the foundation of indoor plumbing was laid in ancient Egypt. Interestingly, religious beliefs also harboured the need for plumbing. It is because Egyptians found it compulsory to install bathrooms in dead royalties’ tombs. This further added to the prevalence of indoor plumbing invented .
What do excavations say about Egypt’s drainage system?
The excavations have discovered an intricately designed drainage system that covered the whole country of Egypt. The very fact that the Egyptian temples were divided into two parts; the inner part and the outer one to simplify the drainage water disposal says a lot about the civilization’s adeptness at plumbing. The inner part of the temple had pipes which took wastewater from the temple and sent it to the major pipeline. This pipeline was further connected to the outer part of the temple that changed its course towards the river. All this happened between 3000 B.C. to 2000 B.C. and played a significant part in making indoor plumbing relevant till today.
Did French Make Permanent Changes to Indoor Plumbing?
Forwarding it fast to the 19th century, the French royalty left permanent marks on the historic course of indoor plumbing. They tried to make it more convenient and accessible for the people who lived in the palace. The French are known for using cast-iron pipes for the transfer of water to a long distance. This is evident through the 15-mile-long pipes that were just installed so that water could easily reach from pump stations to King Louis’ palace.
How did it inspire Cummings’ prototype?
This was the French influence that resulted in the formation of Cummings’ prototype. The use of cast iron made it easier for everyone to go for long pipelines. This helped them get access to clean water and get rid of the sewerage waste. The prototype further modernized it so that the flushing became easier. All it took was one flush to make the wastewater leave through the drainage pipelines without coming across any hurdle. This was a breakthrough that heralded the 21st century of plumbing practices.
How Did the Indoor Plumbing Become Modernized?
Indoor plumbing became modernized with the arrival of elevated water tanks in the 20th century. These tanks made it easy to store water and later on, use it to dispose of the drainage waste. This is the formula that is used to date while designing bathrooms. The modernization of indoor plumbing enhanced the hygienic conditions all across the world. Moreover, since it was rather cheaper, people could easily have access to it. It was the dynamic nature of this plumbing that has made it relevant till the very 21st century.
Ancient Indoor Plumbing Techniques That Are Still in Vogue:
There are many indoor plumbing practices that trace their root back to ancient civilizations. Firstly, the use of copper by the Indus Valley civilization served as the cornerstone for modern-day plumbing. The copper pipes are less prone to rust and are easily available. This is why even today people prefer installing plumbing networks by using these pipes.
Secondly, the use of cast iron ensured that indoor plumbing never went out of trend. It gave the world an idea to form long pipelines so that everyone could have access to clean water and proper disposal of drainage waste.
Conclusion:
To wrap it all up, the history of indoor plumbing stretches way back to ancient times. It has always been relevant to one aspect which can never be doubted. Indoor plumbing was considered a reliable option to make cities cleaner and simplify the elimination of wastewater from living areas. Every civilization took it a step further and added a feature which smoothened its course towards the 21st century. It can easily be taken as one of the pioneering ideas that further made modern-day plumbing a concrete reality.
