History of Indoor Plumbing Details You Can Use

Looking back at history you can see the pivotal moments that helped shape the modern way we live. The invention of indoor plumbing and sewer systems has been instrumental in how society has developed around the globe.

And in this latest post, our team at Powell’s Plumbing in Winchester, VA charts the history of indoor plumbing and looks at some of the most important milestones along the way.

The Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization of 2350 BCE is where the journey begins with the first use of the toilet inside.

Most residents in one of the largest Indus Valley cities, Lothal had indoor toilets in their homes. These toilets connected to local sewer networks and the waste was transported via sewer into cesspits.

The Roman Empire Inventions

The Roman Empire era was a time in which there were significant developments in indoor plumbing systems. While the toilets in homes were still quite primitive, the systems to transport water around the country were much improved.

Large aqueducts were connected with lead pipes to the waterways, and this allowed large amounts of water to be transported.

The Romans were also among the first civilizations to have separate sources of water for drinking, bathing, and cleaning.

The Flush Toilets in Versailles

We now move forward several centuries to the Royal Family of France in the 18th century. The conditions in Versailles, the home of the royals, were difficult.

Because locals would throw their waste out of the window when finished using the latrines in their homes, the waste would pile up throughout the day.

And this created a foul odor. In response, the queen of France Marie Antoinette asked for a flush toilet to be installed in her home at the Palace of Versailles. The system allowed for waste to be sent down into the depths below the palace rather than out into the streets. The flush toilet was one of the first in the world and is now still on display in France.

Sensor-based Flush Systems

While flush toilets had been a great new invention and allowed for a cleaner way of removing waste from the home, the concern over germs led to the invention of the sensor systems.

Sensors determine when the person had stood up away from the toilet, and flushed waste away. These systems prevented the need for the person to manually flush waste and are now used around the globe to help mitigate the transfer of bacteria.

We hope you’ve learned a little more about the history of indoor plumbing from this point. Keep checking back with us as we’ll be presenting more information on the latest trends in the industry in upcoming posts.