A faucet is a mechanical valve used to regulate (release or block) the flow of a fluid (usually water) from plumbing. While turning on a faucet seems almost mundane today, we rarely think about the vast knowledge and technology required to provide water at any given moment with a simple movement of the hand. Yet, between intake, treatment, and distribution to a kitchen or bathroom, water travels a complex path.
Supplying water to buildings is an ancient endeavor. Rudimentary faucets found in Crete are estimated to date back to 1700 BC. [1] During the Roman Empire, water began to be distributed through lead pipes, and in the famous public Roman baths, silver faucets and other gold and marble fixtures allowed for some control over the water flow. By the 19th century, pressurized water distribution to homes began, demanding a more complex device that could withstand higher pressures without leaking or bursting. This led to the screw-down faucet, invented in England in 1800 by Thomas Gryll. "Similar to modern faucets, it featured a screw that forced a washer against a flat surface, thereby blocking the flow of water." [2]
