From the ancient Egyptians to the 1940s, plumbing has come a long way. In the 1940s, 99% of households had all the necessary plumbing components, such as hot and cold running water, a bath or shower, and a flush toilet. Galvanized steel and copper were the most popular water pipes during this time. Hunter was head of the plumbing division of the National Bureau of Standards between the 1920s and 40s.
Modern advances in plumbing have long been credited with increasing human hygiene and eliminating pollution. In the mid-19th century, Chicago completed two enormous plumbing feats that helped transform it into a national commercial center. The Illinois and Michigan canal reversed the flow of the Chicago River, while Herbert Hoover was one of the fathers of modern standardized plumbing codes for builders and plumbers. The nation's first plumbing code, called the “Hoover Code in Hoover's honor,” was published in 1928. The Egyptians believed that the dead enjoyed the same luxuries as the living, which explains why they had plumbing systems in their funeral complexes. In 1994, archaeologists excavating a pyramid discovered a copper piping and drainage system.
This more durable plumbing system allowed users to regulate water pressure much better than with wooden pipes. When the population of New York City outgrew its plumbing system, it devised a new network of hollow logs to carry water for firefighting. The International Code Council was formed to ensure a code and standard strictly enforced in all plumbing projects around the world. Unless you're really boring or naturally curious, you're probably not paying attention to how toilets work or how much water is needed to get waste through pipes and sewer system. However, it is important to understand these concepts if you want to know more about plumbing. You may want to read How can I tell what type of plumbing pipe I have? and What is the difference between water pipe and wastewater (waste) pipe? and Are plastic pipes (PVC, CPVC and PEX) safe for drinking water? Sponsored Content is a special, paid section where companies in the industry offer high-quality, objective, non-commercial content on topics of interest to the Plumbing & Mechanical audience.
