At Home: The Fascinating History of Plumbing
By • July 28, 2025 0 1083
Although we use running water every day, it’s easy to take it for granted.
Indoor plumbing for drinking water was a rarity in Colonial America. Some colonists regarded water as “lowly and common,” better suited to barnyard animals than humans. Perhaps that explains why it took nearly a century for indoor plumbing to develop.
Those colonists relied on digging wells and utilizing readily available natural, unpolluted water sources like springs, streams and ponds — sources that in most European cities had already been fouled. Even if water was not the favored drink in early America — many people preferred something stronger, perhaps brandy or ale — water was the standard drink for most.
Hollowed out tree logs, connected to each other to form a network, were a common method for transporting water. In 1652, the first city waterworks system was created in New York using such a log network; at first, it helped the fire brigades fight fires, but with the advent of steam-powered water pumps the pressure rose too high for wooden pipes. Water supply technologies, including lead pipes, continued to progress through the 1700s. (It was not until 1986 that lead water pipes were banned, though millions are still in use.)
One of the most significant advances in plumbing was the introduction of cast-iron pipes, allowing for safer transportation of water over longer distances and at higher pressures. Philadelphia became the first city in the world to use cast-iron pipes for its water and the first in the U.S. to build a citywide waterworks. About two decades later, in 1829, Boston’s Tremont Hotel installed indoor plumbing for its guests, with indoor toilets and running water — the first of its kind.
In 1830, the first public water main was installed under New York City’s streets; the first floor of the White House received running water three years later. Nonetheless, cast-iron pipes were prone to corrosion, leading to leaks, blockages and other potential health hazards.
By the Industrial Revolution, with masses of people entering cities, there was a need to ensure higher levels of water quality by rerouting waste that was being dumped into bodies of water that supplied drinking water. The first integrated sewer system was built in Chicago in 1856, but only after a deadly outbreak of waterborne diseases that claimed many lives.
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Plumbing-ad
A vintage ad from Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh. Reddit photo.
Plumbing improvements proliferated during the mid-to-late 1800s. Flush toilets were invented and, though installed primarily by the wealthy, greatly improved sanitation and hygiene. However, the principals of venting were still not fully understood. Double doors were commonly installed between the bathrooms and the main living areas to help keep sewer odors from befouling the air. But it was the advancement of venting sewers that allowed waste to flow freely without causing nasty back-pressure events.
There was a significant transformation in plumbing systems in the 1890s and early 20th century. Gas utility services in large cities led to automatic water heaters and plumbed hot water. Temperature and pressure relief valves were added later to prevent spectacular accidents. However, there were still many challenges to resolve, like system failures and contamination.
In 1920, only one percent of U.S. homes had indoor plumbing. Herbert Hoover, then Commerce Secretary, started the Materials and Structures Division of the National Bureau of Standards and appointed Dr. Roy Hunter to the plumbing division. Dr. Hunter conducted a series of research studies on how to best handle various aspects of plumbing, forming the basis of modern plumbing codes (which have changed surprisingly little). Once the codes were created, new housing was built with complete plumbing facilities: hot and cold piped water, a bathtub or shower and a flush toilet. The 20th century also saw the standardization of plumbing fixtures, making it easier for homeowners to repair and replace them.
These advances laid the foundation for modern plumbing. Although the trends of change were present prior to the year 2000, the rate of change has accelerated. Plumbing has evolved into a statement of style. Technological features demanded by market forces include touchless faucets, voice activation, audio systems, mood lighting, water-saving devices, sweatless piping systems and push-fit connections.
Personal electronics — such as shower valves that automatically set temperatures and individualized spray modes — are also complementing plumbing products and system designs. In addition, integrated systems can alert the homeowner of adverse conditions such as constantly running water or breaks/leaks in pipes.
From the colonial period forward, Americans found it natural to drink water, even if they also drank alcohol (apparently with gusto). From a simple hole in the ground, civilization has developed elaborate citywide systems and sophisticated devices that make our lives healthier, easier, more comfortable and much more pleasant. Just like the flow of water through pipes, the history of plumbing in America has been a parallel journey of progress and transformation.
Michelle Galler is an antiques dealer, columnist and painter residing in both Maryland and Virginia.
