All over the world, the signs of more innovation in plumbing started to appear in the early modern period. The earliest water closet was seen in 1596, which comprised of a toilet that had a cistern of water above the seat, which then flushed the waste away. This designed really wasnt put to use until the early 1700s. Then, in the latter part of the 17th century, firefighters experimented with a rudimentary type of pipework. This was hollow wooden pipes to move water towards the fire. This design was not used widely for public hygiene until the 18th century. A Clapham Plumber installs WCs.The Industrial Revolution and Public Health.It is widely thought that the industrial revolution was the motivation for better public health. Europe and America, became more urban as lots people came to the cities to find steady factory work. At this time, public loos were operating, but aided the spread of diseases like typhoid and cholera. A Britain called Edwin Chadwick pressed for better public health for Britain in the 19th century, and his reports regarding sanitation led to a massive piping exercise in cities, like London. Clapham Plumbers work to health ans safety standards. 20th Century Water Treatment.The 20th century was really the start of water and plumbing developments that are still in focus today. It began with 19th century Australia, where it was thought that plumbing should no longer be centralised in cities, and should reach the outback. These days, most developed countries use decentralised treated water in their rural areas taken from reservoirs and water treatment plants. However, water treatment and sanitation are part of the millennium development aims, that show inventions and innovations in plumbing are still needed. Because of a series of inventions and the drive to meet needs, lots of people around the world can access plumbing to meet their health and sanitation needs. The distribution of clean water and the removal of waste have proved to be invaluable to those who have it. But, this is not something that everyone can afford. With billions of people with no access, there is plenty of work still to be done.