Improvement was very slow, with little effective progress made until the growth of modern densely populated cities in the 1800s. With the Fall of Rome both water supply and sanitation stagnated-or regressed-for well over 1,000 years. The Romans used lead pipe inscriptions to prevent water theft. Plumbing reached its early apex in ancient Rome, which saw the introduction of expansive systems of aqueducts, tile wastewater removal, and widespread use of lead pipes. Lead was also used for piping and for making baths. Roman roofs used lead in conduits and drain pipes and some were also covered with lead. The word 'plumber' dates from the Roman Empire. Д¬opper piping appeared in Egypt by 2400 BCE, with the Pyramid of Sahure and adjoining temple complex at Abusir, found to be connected by a copper waste pipe. Standardized earthen plumbing pipes with broad flanges making use of asphalt for preventing leakages appeared in the urban settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization by 2700 BC. They had easily detachable and replaceable segments, and allowed for cleaning.

Clay pipes were later used in the Hittite city of Hattusa. The city of Uruk contains the oldest known examples of brick constructed Latrines, constructed atop interconnecting fired clay sewer pipes, c.3200 BCE. The Mesopotamians introduced the world to clay sewer pipes around 4000 BCE, with the earliest examples found in the Temple of Bel at Nippur and at Eshnunna, used to remove wastewater from sites, and capture rainwater, in wells. Plumbing originated during ancient civilizations, as they developed public baths and needed to provide potable water and wastewater removal for larger numbers of people. Roman lead pipe with a folded seam, at the Roman Baths in Bath, England

Underground pvc water pipe