Indoor plumbing

Essay by reagsA+, April 2004

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What is in almost every civilized house right now? What is used in these houses by millions of people a day, several times throughout? As human beings in this day and age of technology, with as much to do in our daily routine, what can almost all of us not live without? The answer to all of these questions respectively is indoor plumbing. Plumbing in a sense, has come along way throughout time. In this paper I aim to discuss the relevancy of this statement by giving details of indoor plumbing, discussing the importance of its advancement in today's society, results from this advancement and lastly, the ethical consequences, if any, of this advancement in today's modern society.

Plumbing ultimately started in bathhouses close to 4000 years ago by the Grecians and the Romans. These early systems featured drainage systems that flowed into sewers made of stone. Terracotta pipe was laid out of site that provided hot and cold water.

Early devices such as our toilets today were prevalent but heavily modified throughout time. This was of course in wealthy estates, but throughout history proved to be a steady way of life. Miles away from the source of supply, water flowed through aqueducts streaming through the contours of the land. This was all above ground, but by 52 A.D. all but 30 miles of 220 miles were underground. This was all good and well, but by not having any drainage, the Romans were more or less a walking germ.

It was customary to bathe after exercise, and before a meal to promote digestion (theplumber.com). This was the routine for most in Rome. But the English Christians despised most anything Roman, including the value of cleanliness. They considered it to be unsanitary to be clean. Than in 1348 the first wave...