Fun Plumbing Facts
Get to know more about plumbing, a vital part of our everyday lives, with these fun facts!
- The word “plumbing” is derived from “plumbum,”the Latin word for lead —choice building material for Ancient Roman water pipes. In fact, the periodic table symbol for lead, Pb, is based on the same word.
- Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Crapper did not invent the modern flushing toilet — Sir John Harington did in 1596.
- The ancient Minoan civilization on Crete Island developed an advanced plumbing system dating back to 3,000 B.C.E, which featured underground clay pipes and ground-floor flushing toilets.
- According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the average household's leaks can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water every year. Find out what you can do to find and fix hidden leaks.
- Archeologists have recovered copper piping dating back to 2,500 B.C.E from the plumbing system in the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid of Cheops. Incidentally, copper is still one of the most popular piping materials used for plumbing work in today's world.
- Famous Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne was a plumber’s apprentice before he became a rock star.
