World Plumbing Day 2016 - A Brief History of Plumbing

World Plumbing Day 2016 A Brief History of Plumbing... Friday March 11th 2016 marks World Plumbing Day. A day on which the importance of plumbing, safe water and viable sanitation is highlighted across the globe. To celebrate this important day we've put together this infographic to show you just how far plumbing has come and how far it still has to go! 1700 BC The first sewage disposal and drainage system is introduced and the very 312 BC first flush toilet is created on Greece's largest island, Crete. Roman aqueducts revolutionise sanitation and carry 1.2 billion litres of water 57 miles in order to bring fresh water to the people of Rome. 1596 Queen Elizabeth I installs the first flushing toilet in England. It was invented by her godson Sir John Harrington, which is why we call it The John'. 1775 Scotsman Alexander Cumming becomes the first man to receive a patent for the flushing toilet. 1848 England passes the national Public Health Act – a model plumbing code for the world to follow. 1906 1860 Louis Pasteur, the godfather of microbiology uncovers the link between bacteria and disease. William 'Elvis' Sloan invents the 'Flushometer' valve that uses water pressure to wash away 1's and 2's, apposed to using gravity. 1890 The world's first drinking water treatment systems are built to reduce microbial contamination. 1926 A code of practice to protect people from inept plumbing practices is introduced 1969 The approval of standards on fixtures 1933 and fittings is introduced helping to regulate industry standards and improve quality of workmanship. A shocking and tragic outbreak of dysentery that kills nearly 100 people at the World's Fair in Chicago is blamed on a faulty plumbing system 1980- 2000 The first sensor flushing toilet is introduced in Japan. 2005 The UN declares 2005- Low-flow toilets are 2015 the International manufactured to conserve Decade for Action- water. "Water for Life" will look to raise awareness and The International Plumbing Code is introduced. improve sanitation globally Three Glaswegian Physicians win the Nobel Prize for a study of wounds sustained when 2006 throned. The World Health Organisation publishes the guide "Health Aspects of Plumbing", noting that health is impossible 11th March 2016 without basic sanitation. The world celebrates World Plumbing Day to highlight the work still to be done to raise standards across the globe. Plumbing exists to offer a reliable and sanitary water supply to people all across the BestHeating world. But there is still much work to be done. A third of the world's population still do not have access to a toilet and 3 million people die every year from preventable diseases due to poor sanitation. Do your bit to help this World Plumbing Day! www.bestheating.com For more information about World Plumbing Day, visit www.worldplumbing.org