The Importance of Plumbing in Modern Society: An Apprenticeship-Based Implementation to Future Economic Development

1. Introduction

Plumbing permeates modern civilization in an unremarkable but critical manner. Water supply, water removal, and sewage systems are fundamental to the comfort, health, prosperity, and security of all members of society. Likewise, plumbing represents a tremendous business opportunity for individuals committed to a modern-day trade that supplies an essential function. Lastly, plumbing is the key term behind a handful of great economic development initiatives that would reshape the business landscape in a community.

Water supply, water removal, and sewage systems, commonly regarded as plumbing, permeate modern civilization in an unremarkable but critical manner. Most cannot picture life without the soft hum of pumps raising water from aquifers and lakes, and sending it through underground pipes to homes, stores, schools, industry, and agriculture. Likewise, no one expects to live in a community without plumbing systems that store, treat, and prepare waste, storm, and runoff water for environmental return. Individuals consider drinking water from the tap a basic right, as vital to life, security, and comfort as electricity or food. It is unthinkable that raw sewage would be dumped in rivers or lakes, with sewage water leaving cities and towns directly, conveying illness, and dying one hundred years ago. Who colored these assumptions? Who supplied the capital and know-how to lay thousands of miles of water mains? Who built the billions of dollars in pumping stations, water towers, wells, reservoirs, treatment plants, force mains, interceptors, and outfall sewers? Most do not know, but here is a hint: those who did are probably the pillars of societal steering committees. Recently, plumbing stalwarts have joined together to seize this opportunity again.

Plumbing is the fundamental trade at the heart of the construction and civil engineering industries. The smooth function of the water supply and waste disposal systems of a culture is fundamentally dependent on the understanding and skill of its plumbing technical specialists. Nothing else in the business of building and construction, whether it be low-cost private homes or high-end towering skyscrapers, pushes as far away and intimately into a community’s life and water supply as plumbing does. Plumbing permeates every commercial and residential building, every road, every factory, and industrial building. Plumbing is for well-heeled hotels and seedy motels alike. Those who choose plumbing as a career path have untold opportunities preparing the critically needed human resources once again. Some of these individuals will rise to the ranks of multimillionaire moguls. Others will prosper as the leaders and power brokers of their community.

2. Historical Significance of Plumbing

Plumbing, as a technology, has evolved and adapted in various forms throughout human history and prehistory. It has its roots in what is presently Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. Ancient structures in these areas were equipped with conduits or clay pipes for drainage and water supply. In ancient Egypt, wood pipes were employed to divert water from the Nile for irrigation. There is evidence of brick-lined sewers in the Harappan cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa around 2600–1900 BCE. As early as 3000 BC, the residents of the Indus Valley cities in Pakistan constructed sanitation systems consisting of brick sewers, which emptied into septic tanks. In ancient India, clay water pipes and toilets were used. In ancient Rome, there were lead cisterns for the supply of water and lead pipes to the public spaces and to the houses. Public baths were constructed between 250 and 60 BC. Water was brought from a distance of 500 miles through 11 aqueducts, and the Criniti aqueduct embraced the most ingenious construction with its high arches. Two of these aqueducts are still in use, supplying water to Rome. (Milwright2022)

The first city to have an elaborate water system was Rome. After the period in Egypt, no buildings with plumbing were constructed until the Renaissance, and this was also the time when the Roman Empire disintegrated and with it their technology. The architectural remains of the Romans have long been a wonder to expositors, and towards the end of the Renaissance, there were attempts to unravel some of the mysteries attached to them, of which the systems for water supply were the most fabled. Since the time of the Egyptian kings and the last of the Ptolemies, when Alexandria had even underground equal to the meridian, it was perfectly possible to run telegraphic pipes of copper along the siphon, the pump for elevating, and to elevate the water, at a cost every year of 30,000 sesterces - between 16 million and 210 million gallons, at estimate with hydrometers. Ingenuity again wrought marvels by pumping daily into the city aqueducts able to convey 100,000 gallons daily, and sometimes more. But with the empire fell the water supply, and the great Roman towns relapsed through the Middle Ages into the blackness of darkness, the reader would say. (De Kleijn, 2021)

The skill of the Grecian architects in constructing houses, streets, and sewers (but chiefly the great effort made to bring water from Mount Hymettus and other mountains to Athens) drew upon them the curious attention of foreign nations and gave them the reputation of the most sagacious people in the ancient world. Well might the Greeks boast of their Ten Thousand, who made Iran tremble. But their wonderful aqueducts long preceded the greatness of their empire, commanding reverence and respect. Curiosity and admiration changed until a band of vain and insatiable sybarites came to Athens, whose wealth presented a challenge chiefly to the sharper wits of the Greeks, the very people to whom the luxuries of life had presented so stark and grievous a challenge. (Vieira, 2024)

3. Plumbing in Modern Society

Plumbing plays a crucial role in modern society. A system of pipes, valves, taps, and fixtures is designed for the distribution of potable water supply, the removal of waterborne wastes, or the heating and removal of steam. Water and sanitation systems are an essential part of a nation's infrastructure, and plumbing ensures safety in any built environment. Primary advancements in plumbing include developing efficient piping systems, improving sanitation, constructing aqueducts, inventing water tanks, and much more. Modern plumbing embraces complex systems that usually require a lot of planning. Innovative materials are used in plumbing systems, such as thermoplastics, pipes, and fittings. Some private information must be included, such as using non-disclosure agreements to prevent losses to competitors. Still, plumbing can attune to the environment by using advanced filtration and many other devices. (Hayward et al., 2022)

Plumbing ensures public health and sanitation in bureaucratic cities. It provides access to clean drinking water and proper sewage disposal, which is essential for the well-being of any population. The economic burden of a properly functioning sewage system is advantageous for future investments. Diseases are at a higher level in slums without sewage systems; the environment is polluted, and public and private resources are lost. The general mortality rate can drastically rise; thus, investments in plumbing pay off quickly. Moreover, without regulated sanitation systems, groundwater can be easily contaminated, leading to more epidemics. All of this creates instability, which discourages future investments in a city. This issue can be noticed in newer and smaller cities built to accommodate a large influx of workers. Cities with a rising population in developing countries are currently facing this dilemma. (Copper, 2024)

3.1. Role in Public Health and Sanitation

Plumbing plays a dominant role in public health partially because of its ability to efficiently manage the supply of good drinking water as well as the disposal of waste. The importance of plumbed-in water and sanitation pipes for good public health has been known historically. Well-planned and properly resourced water supplies are important for promoting good health, while water supplies lacking such plans can contribute to a rapid disease spread. The establishment of basic water supply and sanitation piping in the developing world in the last decades of the 20th century achieves this goal in many countries around the world. It is easy to forget, however, that there are still cities where such basic supplies do not exist and that their deterioration can have devastating effects. With investments to improve basic piping infrastructure in the present, the last 15 years of the 20th century should soon be remembered for extensively improving the health of the world’s population; a fact that would not be disputed by any health professional. (Jarvis & Fawell, 2021)

One of the greatest concerns in large crowded communities is the spread of disease through vermin or human waste and flies. The lack of flooring material and adequate sanitation in mud buildings leads to the accumulation of excreta in the foot holes used for entering and leaving, as well as around cooking areas and where livestock are kept; these areas, used by members of the household, are quickly and conveniently accessed by vermin. Improvised drainage systems made through mud channels leading water downhill allow waste and water to accumulate and fester in nearby muddy patches. This helps germs transmit from home to home and person to person, ultimately resulting in illness or death.

In contrast to modern sanitation systems, the people of the past had other means of dealing with waste. Before toilet tanks became commonplace, human waste was disposed of directly through cash holes, trenches, or privies. With all the germs being transmitted from farm fields to high social classes, this was a big disadvantage. Little care was taken in hygiene and as a consequence, people got infected with various diseases. As cities increased in size, the excrement-rich, badly polluted water led to outbreaks of cholera. The first was in London in 1832, with 6,536 dead; cholera returned in 1848-49, with 15,000 dead; again in 1866 with 5,471 dead; and finally in 1873 with 2,735 dead. A similar and worse tale can be told of Paris, which faced greater problems because of its size. A district ravaged by cholera could see around a quarter of the men in some of its streets dead or the women dead in their beds. With no knowledge of hygiene or of germs, there was really nothing anyone could do to contain the epidemic. Deaths were left unburied leading to an increase in rats; people got buried alive under piles of corpses in the streets; mendicant corpses roamed around the city; and the stench was putrid. (Stieva, 2023)

3.2. Impact on Infrastructure and Urban Development

Plumbing technology has evolved from rudimentary systems of aqueducts and ditches to a large-scale unified service not dependent on conditions or developments elsewhere. It is, therefore, an important and critical infrastructure in modern society. The plumbing domain is commonly categorized as complex, as its operations are a) large-scale and city-wide, b) unseen and underground, c) filled with one-way transportation systems or pipelines of fluids, and d) rigid with fixed physical boundaries and constraints, and long delays due to extensive underground operations. These complexities generally make it hard to be modeled. Despite its complexity, it is important to create realistic modeling of the infrastructure in order to sustain and improve it in the future. Educated labor in the plumbing domain can explore improvements of this infrastructure against these challenges. Economic development is an influential concept in democratically governed societies. In the broader context of society, economic development can be considered a collective improvement of general welfare, employment opportunities, or household incomes. In more applied sectors, economic development may refer to job creation or locally increased tax revenues. A basic need for economic development is a good and solid infrastructure. Well-performing infrastructure can make cities more competitive concerning job opportunities and investments, and it is also attractive for inhabitants. Nonetheless, infrastructure and wider public services are under threat. The combination of increasing demands and decreasing budgets is a growing recognition that, in order to deliver sustainable services, it is imperative to have a better understanding of infrastructure systems. Generally, the urban development and planning sector has experience with model-based assessment of alternatives against long-term objectives, but there is no such framework in the broader water services domain. The plumbing domain is an active and filled research area with a diverse range of modern and promising techniques to improve performance and cost-effectiveness for the drainage, drinking water, and fire extinguishing networks. Advanced techniques are available but not sufficient, and available techniques often appear too sophisticated. There is, therefore, a high demand for practical models and techniques in order to create a better understanding of the plumbing infrastructure, to study strategic plans and alternatives and their wide consequences, and to create awareness of possible risks. This research focuses on plumbing technology as a promising discipline within higher education and the niche it can fill in the local labor market and society. It ultimately aims at improving the local economy and welfare of the region. (Liu et al.2024)

4. Challenges and Opportunities in the Plumbing Industry

The plumbing industry may seem straightforward at first glance, but upon further inspection, it is discovered that there is more happening beneath the surface than is given recognition. Just like any other industry, the plumbing industry has its fair share of challenges that it faces today. However, it is not all doom and gloom. With challenges come opportunities that, if seized correctly, could result in tremendous growth for the industry as a whole.

One of the main challenges facing the industry today is the rapid depletion of freshwater resources due to the worsening of climate change. Freshwater is the basis of life on Earth; more than three billion people rely on freshwater resources to meet their basic needs. However, freshwater resources are fast running out, resulting in water shortages in regions that need it the most, hence leading to rapid urbanization. Consequently, the quantity and quality of potable water coming from piped supply systems have decreased. Furthermore, as a result of urban expansion, the coverage of the sanitation system for these settlements is still limited. This, in turn, leads to the rapid proliferation of waterborne diseases, resulting in death for more than a million people per year. Apart from this, mass migration due to climate change, diseases, and wars has resulted in the formation of informal settlements in many parts of the world. Although there are efforts from governments and the private sector to settle these masses, it is not happening fast enough. There is a crucial need for resource-conserving measures to increase water supply or treat water streams to make it suitable for use, inject back to the source, or use one after another, as with the principles of water-wise living or multiple use water services. (Baggio et al., 2021)

Moreover, the major challenge for the plumbing industry is access to clean water supplies and sanitation services. It is reported that nearly 1 billion people lack access to clean water supplies, while 2.5 billion people do not have access to any sanitation facilities. Consequently, contaminated water or waterborne diseases cause around 4,000 deaths per day, mainly among young populations. Furthermore, climate change, population growth, economic growth, and urbanization are detrimental agents that deteriorate existing water resources.

Fortunately for the plumbing industry, there is a major opportunity as current advances in technology, such as the transition from seal-based technologies to wireless passive intelligent sensors and actuators, could significantly change the circumstances of a particular plumbing company. In addition to this, an opportunity exists for the plumbing industry to capitalize on current federal and state government preferences to set up companies in compliance with environmental regulations. The plumbing industry is perfectly placed in the center of these two circumstances and is currently not utilizing its competitive advantage. The main goal now is to develop a strategy for the plumbing industry as a whole to embrace emerging technologies through research and development partnerships, which will guarantee the industry’s survival into the future. It is also important to capitalize on the government preferences for the plumbing industry to develop a specific business model, which will allow each start-up plumbing company to gain direct benefits from being involved in initial or early-stage developments. (Lavikka et al.2021)

5. Apprenticeship Programs in Plumbing

Recognizing the importance of how plumbing is critical for economic development, apprenticeship programs should be implemented to financially support educational resources as well as salaries. In this case, equipment costs are low for students. Graduated plumbers will take positions that are essential to keeping diseases from spreading and will help the lives of every individual with access to water. Given the importance of how plumbing is part of economic development, the focus will be on implementation with an awareness of fluid mechanics, a stress that may not be directly taught in schooling. Recommendations will be made for a successful program.

Apprenticeship programs have a plethora of benefits over traditional schooling, but they focus on suddenly being well acquainted with science, physics, and mathematics subjects. Similar to how plumbing integrates many different forms of science, a pathway towards becoming a plumber that best suits students will focus on integration with their life practices and skills. Planning for a plumbing provider is discussed and will be revisited with policy implications. (Firat, 2020)(Özkul & Özden, 2020)

Currently, there are limited opportunities for large-scale education in plumbing, and the only known provider is a government-run program. However, there are a plethora of manufacturing companies in other industries that are actively hiring for plumbing positions, with no one appropriate to fulfill the needs. The ongoing applicability of apprenticeship training can be demonstrated, supported with evidence or detailed data. In one location, for example, one can start a plumbing job for cash at a low daily rate without ever going to school, with the hope of one day making a higher amount, only relying on luck. This may at first seem greedy from both sides, but with funds and a workforce, such a great starting amount may seem appropriate to keep initial costs low for clients. Still, with the idea of capitalism, such growth is not sustainable. Thus, understanding opportunities that would be missed because of a lack of education and training can only support richer incomes. (Spicer et al., 2021)

5.1. Benefits of Apprenticeship Training

Apprenticeship training involves providing hands-on skills training in a specific occupation, such as plumbing, through a structured program of practical training combined with the completion of relevant theoretical knowledge, usually to post-secondary level. Recent years have seen a resurgence in interest in apprenticeship training as it once again becomes popular with employers and alternative educators seeking an efficient means of training skilled workers, while trainees are beginning to recognize its training advantages over traditional college routes into employment. Plumbing apprenticeship training programs typically last four years for workers between the ages of 18 and 22 years in Australia and New Zealand and begin with attending an educational institution during the first year of the apprenticeship before beginning work in industry for the following three years. However, concern is growing over the mismatching of these programs with industry requirements, and despite the current high employment prospects, an increased interest in non-conventional career paths on the part of school leavers is prompting concern over the viability of the existing plumbing apprenticeship system. An exploration of the benefits of apprenticeship training takes place in this literature review of reports and survey studies undertaken by plumbing industry associations and related organizations. Detailed information is provided on the following key areas: benefits of apprenticeship training, evaluation of modern responses to previously cited shortcomings of apprenticeship training schemes, and is complemented by three case studies of successful plumbing apprenticeship training programs undertaken by organizations. In conducting this literature review, exploration is undertaken into plumbing apprenticeship training programs and the challenges faced by both graduates and employers in plumbing trade skills development. At the conclusion of the review, recommendations for the improvement of the current state and facilities of plumbing apprenticeship training programs in Australia and New Zealand are presented.

5.2. Case Studies of Successful Apprenticeship Programs

In recent years, many countries around the world have adopted successful apprenticeship programs in various fields. Some of these programs have already shown success and increased future employment opportunities and economic development. Below are a few case studies of successful countries and their apprenticeship programs.

Swiss apprenticeship programs represent a globally acceptable model that has been followed in numerous countries. The participation of enterprises and students in a dual education system represents the program, distinctly separating it from other vocational training programs in the world. Here, initial vocational training occurs in a workplace, combining educational and training experiences divided between a school and a workplace. In a world where youth unemployment has been a significant concern for economies all over the globe, countries like Switzerland have undertaken a tremendous need for change to overcome future skills shortages. The program supported by the Swiss government strives for large enterprises to provide two-thirds of all apprenticeship training, demanding skills in technical and commercial fields. This program saw significant interest from the Swiss population, and almost 90% of eligible youth pursued this course, resulting in the decline of youth unemployment levels. (Pilz & Wiemann, 2021)

Apprenticeship programs in Germany and its regions represent a world-renowned dual education system that weathers economic turbulence better than other national systems of higher education and training. Training and education are experience-oriented, conducted in publicly recognized workplaces and schools in an established formal symmetry to ensure knowledge and competencies are effectively and equally acquired. The success of this initiative and its resilience to macroeconomic crises lies in the shared responsibility of a socially institutionalized triad of the state, employers' associations, and trade unions. The conditions for mediation by social actors are met in the field of vocational training and education, thus opening space for the emergence of paths in regional pattern building. However, this success is also based on regionally embedded processes of institutionalization, co-evolution, and social order building that facilitate and restrict supporting coordination mechanisms.

In conclusion, addressing skills gaps in the global economy is a major challenge. Promoting and facilitating the sharing and exchange of best practices surrounding apprenticeship and dual systems of vocational training is an important positive step towards achieving this goal. Many countries around the world could be encouraged to adopt similar programs in specific sectors, such as plumbing, where the gap between need and provision is most prevalent.

6. The Economic Impact of Plumbing

Proper containment and removal of wastewater and stormwater is one of the most vital essentials for a civilized society. Plumbing infrastructure and services involve safety, cleanliness, and protection from the many potential abuses provided by advanced cultures. Safe and sanitary plumbing is a basic human right. These systems are necessary to the development, prosperity, and continuance of a modern society. Plumbing systems involve a sophisticated network of pipes, valves, fittings, drainage, fixtures, and appliances. There are five major components of plumbing: water supply system, water drainage system, heating system, traps, and vents. In addition to these, there are devices like backflow preventers, water softeners, septic tanks, grease interceptors, etc. These essential and complex components deliver a wide range of advantages and opportunities, shaping economies and simplifying secured living.

Most residential and commercial buildings have separate systems of plumbing for water supply and drainage. Large buildings might even include a heating system. Many appliances, like sinks, faucets, toilets, gully traps, shower heads, air conditioners, dishwashers, and water heaters, are included in the plumbing network. These components and systems are key to the current global landscape. The rapid advancements in plumbing systems over the last few centuries have led to unprecedented progress in economic sectors. Socio-economic growth has been encouraged by the provision of available and potable drinking water. Plumbing development leads directly to industrial development, where energy generation, chemical processing, irrigation, etc., require a safe and sanitary system of water supply and drainage. Industrial development shapes the capabilities of built environments. Infrastructural advancements increase accessibility by forming interconnections between major trade pathways across vast geographies. Accessibility, reliability, and safety catalyze economic growth within communities. (Degraeve, 2022)

The economic impact of plumbing on society is not just limited to the surface; below-ground plumbing systems are largely ignored in broad analyses and reports from governing bodies. Public sewer, storm drain, and water distribution systems cater to the daily needs of developed urban centers. Water distribution systems rely on complex networks of pipes, tanks, pumps, and monitoring systems. Risks of accidental contamination of potable water are avoided through guidelines on the placement of water mains in relation to sewers. Wastewater collection systems, apart from getting rid of human waste, are also used to transport hazardous materials, chemicals, and spills. Storm drainage systems, mostly neglected by the government considering their large extent as well as complexity, however, play important roles in water quality concerns, natural drainage of water, and pollution hotspots.

7. Conclusion and Future Directions

Modern society has been built upon the foundations of water systems and sanitation facilities. Clean water and proper sanitation are central to modern civilization. The importance of plumbing and water access in developed and developing countries is outlined and examined. Furthermore, an apprenticeship system for plumbing is proposed in order to encourage sustainable development and economic growth, especially in poorer countries. Finally, potential avenues for future research in plumbing are explored. This paper discusses the importance of plumbing and water access in the modern world, specifically in developed and developing countries, in order to facilitate awareness and encourage interest in this issue. The infrastructure of plumbing is often taken for granted in wealthier countries, while the importance of plumbing and water access is being neglected in poorer countries. An apprenticeship program is proposed as a form of facilitation in the hope that countries across the globe, especially those that are developing, will prosper from the sustainable growth and economic development plumbing can provide. Finally, potential avenues for future plumbing-related studies include: 1. exploring the plumbing systems of ancient civilizations in greater depth; 2. investigating the pros and cons of various plumbing materials; 3. assessing how plumbing systems differ from region to region on a national and international scale; 4. analyzing the impact of different plumbing codes on the safety and health of residents; 5. conducting an investigation into the energy efficiency of plumbing systems; and 6. examining the effectiveness of plumbing apprenticeship programs.

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