The majority of us take for granted the easy access to water in our homes, whether we use it for drinking, cooking, cleaning, or hygiene. All it takes is turning on a tap to get hot and cold water. However, the way humans obtain water has frequently presented health dangers throughout history and does so even today in many places of the world. In light of this, let's look at some surprising ways plumbing affects your health daily.
Initial Plumbing
The earliest known plumbing systems appeared around 6000 BC. Even by modern standards, the Roman Empire was renowned for its creativity in creating what would be called a sophisticated plumbing system. The Romans employed lead pipes to convey water through aqueducts and subterranean sewage systems, considerably enhancing hygienic conditions and public health. The original Roman aqueducts are still visible, demonstrating how durable the design was and why it continues to serve as an inspiration for contemporary plumbing systems.
Diseases Spread by Water
Sadly, the majority of ancient civilizations weren't as fortunate. Many communities suffered as a result of water-borne illnesses like the plague. In huge populations with access to bad water, disease spreads swiftly. Due to improper trash disposal, this situation was made worse. Cities with poor sanitation were dangerous because cholera and typhoid fever, which persisted into the early 1900s, were caused by improper waste disposal. This played a significant role in decreasing life expectancies.
Health Improvements
Numerous regulatory improvements were made to help with sanitization all through the 1800s and 1900s. The National Public Health Act, which was passed in 1848, had a positive influence on plumbing standards. The Act sparked a worldwide revolution in sanitation that has improved public health. By halting the fast spread of water-borne diseases in the early twentieth century, these innovations doubled the average lifetime of Americans.
Closed Sewers
Closed sewer systems and the development of the modern toilet significantly improved the health of people living in industrialized countries as further developments widened the water problem. As more towns adopted the theories of thinkers like Dr. Snow, they came to the conclusion that better cleanliness could prevent the spread of many prevalent diseases. While hazardous garbage was being carefully removed from houses and streets, more toilets were being built, which assisted people in safely disposing of waste.
Access to Clean Water
The United Nations General Assembly declared access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation to be a fundamental human right on July 28, 2010. In accordance with Resolution 64/292, states and international organizations are urged to provide funds to help improve technology and capacity-building for developing nations that lack access to safe, cheap, clean, and readily available drinking water. To lessen risks to one's health, water used for drinking or domestic purposes must be free of microorganisms, chemicals, and radioactive hazards. The World Health Organization (WHO) offers recommendations to assist in developing national standards that guarantee the safety of drinking water.
A Lead Pipe
With up to 10 million houses still receiving water though lead pipes, Americans are still not out of the woods. Lead leaks into the water when lead service lines corrode. Although utilities use chemicals to decrease lead, a full replacement is the best option. However, replacing lead pipes is a costly process that some homeowners may find too burdensome. National organizations are working together with water utilities, public health, environmental, and consumer organizations to attempt and provide money to help with lead service line replacement.
Contact Order a Plumber Inc. today for more information about maintaining the safety of your home's water in Long Island.