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Indoor plumbing has always been a necessity rather than a luxury because human beings must stay clean and drink fresh water in order to stay healthy.
Evidence of the installation of early indoor plumbing dates back to 4,000 BC in the form of clay-and-straw pipes that were unearthed by archaeologists near the Indus River Valley.
Before that, fresh water was generally carried in pots from lakes or river sources for use and wastewater was carted out the same way. Slaves bathed in natural running right at the side of a river or lake, while their masters bathed in heated water in tubs.

The Lost Innovations of Roman and Egyptian Plumbing

By 2500 B.C., copper pipes were used for plumbing by the Egyptians, who installed them in complex and intricate ways inside of burial pyramids. Interestingly, these fully functional baths and fountains were not meant for anyone living to use, as the tombs were sealed off.
It was assumed that those in the afterlife would make full use of the facilities. As is true of most societies back then, it was only royalty or the wealthy that had indoor plumbing.
The ancient Romans brought water to everyone by laying down 220 miles of pipes and perfected the construction of irrigation and sewage systems. Water was directed to indoor faucets and decorative fountains in central courtyards. By 52 AD, Roman plumbing innovations were considered to be the state of the art in the ancient world.
Unfortunately, after the fall of the Roman Empire in 376 A.D., this engineering genius was lost and the entire world regressed back to using pails and chamber pots. Four centuries with no plumbing led to body odor and disease. This was true even in the most luxurious palaces of the world and in fact, the French Queen Marie Antoinette, who lived in the Palace of Versailles in the 1600s, invented a floral perfume to cover up the stench of body odors wafting through her court.

The Flush Toilet and Other Modern Plumbing Advances

The advent of modern plumbing began with the invention of the first working flush toilet in 1775 by an English man named Alexander Cumming. There was an earlier version created in 1596 by another Englishman, Sir John Harrington, but in that case, there was no system of pipes in place to whisk any sewage away.
Once pipes were installed in English houses enabling proper flushing, the indoor shower was also introduced, as a closed system that recycled used water through pipes.
By the 1830s, American hotels were outfitted with the first toilets and showers, and in 1833, a toilet and shower was installed on the second floor of the White House. In 1891, Thomas Crapper updated toilet design to include an elevated tank with valves and siphons.
You can still buy elevated tank style toilets from suppliers who specialize in retro bathroom fixtures to suit an older house. It wasn’t until 1919 that the floor-mounted toilet tanks that are still in use today came into common use.
If you live in the Salt Lake City, UT, you are privileged to be living in an advanced contemporary society with many retrofitted buildings that boast such modern, eco-friendly conveniences as water-efficient toilets, low flow faucets and powerful irrigation systems for your garden. Some buildings even have the capacity to heat their buildings using water from surrounding sewers.
Things are no different today than they were in ancient times, with the primary, emphasis being on efficiency, maintaining sanitary conditions and always having fresh running water to bathe in and drink.

As the mercury rises, you may start to think your water-conserving practices are no longer needed. It may seem like as good of a time than ever to make a few exceptions and use up your precious water to cool down.
But, what if we told you that you can still enjoy outdoor summer activities while also conserving water at the same time?
Here are our top five favorite water-saving outdoor summer fun activities:

Running Through the Sprinkler

Nothing says “summer” like running through the sprinkler! This easy and effortless activity requires little doing on your part and results in major fun and memories made for your kids.
Put your sprinkler's time when your family can enjoy it too and get double the use out of the sprinkler. You’ll be irrigating your lawn while cooling down the family at the same time.

Get Creative with PVC Piping

After making sure your hose is in good working conditioner, head to the hardware store and pick up some PVC piping. You can drill tiny holes into the piping and connect it to the hose in any configuration you can think of.
Either running the pipe on the ground or creating an outdoor PCV cube, the possibilities are endless. Your kids will be blown away by their own personal splash pad.

Do the Limbo

We know the limbo as a fun party activity with a long stick and some funky tunes, but what if the limbo stick was made from a stream of water instead?
Use the hose to create a dynamic limbo stick that your kids will want to touch! Blast some fun music and watch the limbo evolve into a fit of hose spraying, laughing, and fun for all.

War of the Sponges

Water fights are another fun outdoor activity, but water balloons are wasteful since you can only use them once. A better alternative is a sponge fight! Distribute colorful sponges to family members and place buckets of water around your property for refills and let the war of the sponges begin.
Another use for water sponges is a minute-to-win-it style game where participants are required to move water from one full bucket to another empty bucket using only a sponge. You’re sure to cool down as you soak up water and try to transfer it to the other bucket without spilling.

DIY Slip and Slide

Slip and slides are endless fun in the summer. Did you know you can make your own version of a slip and slide using materials you probably already have at home?
For the slippery surface, try using a painter’s tarp or a few heavy-duty garbage bags taped together.
Once you’ve placed the surface in a location without any rocks or sharp edges, simply squirt a small amount of dish soap and add a few buckets of water for an amazing DIY slip and slide!