Skip to content

When Did Plumbing Begin? A History

  • by
Plumbing history in Egypt

Plumbing is one of those trades that seems to have been around forever! It’s certainly has been a thing for as long as you and I have been here.

You may have questions about when and how plumbing got its start. In this article, we’re going to show you the earliest evidence of plumbing as we know it.

What Is The History Of Plumbing?

Plumbing as we know it can be traced to the ancient Greeks, who dug tunnels to lay underground pipes made of clay. These pipes fed into a vast water supply as well as handled sanitation.

But even before that, the Bible mentions that Jehovah told the Israelites at Deuteronomy 23:12, “When you squat outside, you should dig a hole with it and then cover your excrement.”

In reality, many ancient civilizations have evidence of early plumbing efforts. All the great civiliazations such as the Babylonians, the Persians and the Chinese all have historic documents that prove that their early cities had an organized approach to wastewater and public baths.

Historians point to the Egyptians as the first people to employ copper pipes in the building of a pyramid or ziggurat, which was the equivalent of a temple. 

When Did Indoor Plumbing Begin?

Indoor plumbing is a relatively recent development when it comes to home-building. 

In America’s infancy, all of the homes had outdoor plumbing — outhouses — where people did their business.

The toilet back then was little more than a rudimentary hole in the ground.

Right before the Civil War, advancements in comfortable home living began to take shape.

Final Thoughts

Plumbing has been with us for thousands of years. If you enjoy the trade, it has a really cool history that you should definitely get into.

Are you interested in learning the basics of plumbing? Make sure that you have the standard tools to get started.

If you need a professional plumber to come out to your home or business, contact Cowboy Plumbers right now.

If you need further assistance, please contact Cowboy Plumbers for all your plumbing & drain cleaning needs at 404-985-0114.