Plumbing has been an essential part of human civilisation for thousands of years, with fascinating facts and quirky titbits hidden behind everyday systems we often take for granted. From ancient innovations to surprising career paths, plumbing holds more history and trivia than most realise. Below are a few intriguing plumbing facts you might not know.
Flushing history goes back centuries
The concept of the flushing toilet dates back to the 1500s, thanks to Sir John Harrington. His invention not only revolutionised sanitation, but also left us with the term “The John.” However, it wasn’t until 1775 that Alexander Cummings patented the first design of the modern flushing system.
The Super Bowl flush phenomenon
According to the Mirror, there’s a unique toilet-flushing trend during the Super Bowl in the United States. Millions head to their bathrooms during halftime, creating a spike in water usage. A similar occurrence happened in the UK during television breaks for “Coronation Street,” when people would all boil their kettles at the same time!
A different path for Einstein?
Surprisingly, Albert Einstein once stated that if he hadn’t been a physicist, he would have liked to have become a plumber.
From pipework to fame
Many well-known figures have worked as plumbers before becoming famous. Ozzy Osbourne was a plumber before achieving rock stardom with Black Sabbath. Also, the game character, Mario, was portrayed as a carpenter, rather than a plumber in his 1980s arcade games adventures alongside Donkey Kong.
The origin of the word plumbing
The term plumbing is derived from the Latin word “plumbum,” which means lead. Lead was widely used in early piping systems, and its chemical symbol, Pb, found on the periodic table, originates from the same Latin term.
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Conserving water in your toilet
A significant amount of water can be conserved by installing toilets with slower flushing mechanisms. Slow-flush toilets have the potential to save as much as 18,000 gallons annually. Additionally, stopping leaks from taps can save an extra 3,000 gallons every year.
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