Many of us are familiar with plumbers. We have heard about the invention of the single-handle faucet, the plumbers’ tool of choice. Al Moen designed the first single-handle faucet in 1939 and started manufacturing in 1947. The first Moen faucets sold for $12 each. The first Moen faucets made a splash because they were useful to all people. This invention has become a staple in many homes, and has become a cultural icon. Some of us may even associate plumbers with video games. The characters Mario and Luigi, from the Mario and Luigi series, were originally carpenters, but soon after they were given plumber jobs.
It is estimated that the average American family wastes 180 gallons of water every week. That’s enough water to do around 300 loads of laundry. The word plumber has an interesting origin: it comes from the Latin word plumbum, which means “plumber.” Lead was commonly used in water pipes, so plumbers were called plumbarius.
In the US, there are 480,600 licensed plumbers. A plumber’s job market is expected to grow by 15.6% between 2016 and 2026. In 2013, the plumbing industry was worth $95 billion. It is expected to exceed $110 billion in the next decade.
