Plumbing came about as a result of two major needs. Number one was the need to bring water close to where humans lived. We have always set up our villages and towns near bodies of water because we need water live. It is literally required for bodily function. But as our population expanded away from the water source, we needed a way to get that water source to the people. Ducts were built many centuries ago which brought water to the masses. Unfortunately, many of the ducts were contaminated with lead which caused much of the population to go mad. True story.
The second reason plumbing was invented was to remove waste from living areas. Human waste can be very deadly to our health. This is why outhouses were dug deep in the ground and at least a good 20-30 feet from the home. Now, with modern plumbing, the waste water can be safety and efficiently removed from the home with the flick of the wrist.
According to a plumber in Melbourne FL. “the modern toilet can remove human waste from the home in seconds and by using a third of the water it required to do so just 20-30 years ago. It’s more about efficiency now.”
Other modern marvels in the world of plumbing are efficient shower heads which provide a good strong flow but do not use an excessive amount of water. Of course, with any technology there is always a balance between comfort, convenience and efficiency. It’s a struggle as old as time. We want the best solutions, that use the least amount of resources as easily as possible. If you manage to capture all three of these aspects in your design, you have the perfect technology.
