Honoring World Plumbing Day in Reading, MA by Taking a Look Back at Plumbing History
Celebrated annually on March 11th, World Plumbing Day was created by the World Plumbing Council (WPC) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to raise awareness about the vital role plumbing technology has in the lives and health of people all over the world.
World Plumbing Day is a very important day for us here at Waldman Plumbing. It’s the perfect opportunity to not only appreciate the hard work plumbers perform but also to educate our customers on how the plumbing services we offer can make their lives healthier and easier!
In honor of World Plumbing Day and to better appreciate the convenience modern plumbing systems add to our lives, here’s a glimpse of what life would be like without them.
Unsanitary water and sewage sanitation systems
The earliest recorded sewage and sanitation systems similar to the ones used today were found in the prehistoric Middle East, though similar systems were also used in cities throughout the Ancient World. However before these systems were perfected and widely implemented, it was common to dump waste in rivers and other water sources, which contributed to the spread of waterborne illnesses.
Bath time was different
In the early 1900’s, less than 14% of American homes had a bathtub, which made the nice, hot baths of today simple out of the question. And without hot water heaters, water was heated on a stove or over a fire and poured into a basin, after which the whole family took turns taking a bath with the same water.
Having to collect water
It’s easy to forget how convenient having indoor plumbing is but just imagine how hard it would be to have to fetch water from a well or another source every single day. Instead of simply turning on a faucet, people often had to trek long distances and haul heavy loads of water back to their homes. Having a well on your property was definitely an asset!
Washing clothes by hand
Thanks to modern washers and dryers, doing laundry is one of the easiest chores. Without modern plumbing however, it was one of the hardest! Clothes had to be scrubbed by hand using a washboard and a bar of soap. Similarly, clothes were also washed by hand in rivers and streams by beating them over rocks.
Increased risk of illness
The WPC estimates that as many as 3.1 million people across the world die each year due to preventable diseases caused by a lack of access to clean water. As startling as that may seem, this figure was much higher before the popularity of indoor plumbing pipes and water treatment.
At Waldman Plumbing, we strive to stay on top and ahead of the latest in plumbing technology and techniques in order to continue providing our customers with the best service possible. Call us today for plumbing services in Reading, MA. Happy World Plumbing Day!