Plumbing

water systems · homes · engineering

Water delivery. Plumbing systems use pipes and valves to transport clean drinking water throughout your house so you can get water from any faucet whenever you need it.

Waste removal. Just as important as bringing water in, plumbing also carries dirty water and waste away from your home through pipes to treatment plants or septic systems.

Many uses. Plumbing does more than just handle drinking water and waste. It also helps with heating and cooling systems, and can deliver fluids for all sorts of other applications.

Ancient Roman invention. The word plumbing comes from the Latin word plumbum, which means lead. The Romans were the first to build effective pipe systems, and they made their pipes out of lead over 2,000 years ago.

Pipes and fixtures. A plumbing system includes pipes, faucets, toilets, showers, valves, and tanks all working together to control the flow of water through your home.