The Minoans of ancient Greece pioneered many water supply technologies that contributed to humans living inland. These inventions included underground piping systems, aqueducts, cisterns, and even flush toilets. The Romans stole this idea and improved upon it, adapted it to big cities. After the Roman Empire fell, people moved to the countryside again, eliminating the need for advanced waste disposal systems.

Outhouses were first built in ancient China in 206 BC. However, Europeans took the outhouse to a new level by covering it and adding a seat about 500 years later. Still, eventually the hole for the outhouse would be filled up, so the entire building had to be moved. Plus, you had to go outside no matter if it were raining, snowing, hailing, hot, or cold. It attracted insects, plus the smell was rancid. Still, humans lived this way for hundreds of years until the mid-19th century.

First Septic Tank

The invention of the septic tank is credited to a Frenchman named Jean-Louis Mouras around 1860. He was determined to invent a system of waste disposal that prevented you from having to go outside. In essence, he ran clay pipes from his home to a concrete tank outside. When the sewage overflowed, it was emptied into a cesspool, which was emptied by the city. After 10 years, he dug up his tank and discovered that it was mostly liquid waste inside. He began to perfect his design after this discovery, and in 1881, he was issued a patent, and this septic tank made its way to the United States in 1883.

Americans took the septic system idea and perfected it. Made of concrete or steel, these septic tanks were emptied into drainage fields where Mother Nature finished the cleansing process. Eventually, concrete and steel tanks were failing due to rust and cracks. Plus, with urban areas in the United States growing faster than wastewater treatment plants could be built, it was imperative to fix the issues with septic tanks. With concerns over contaminated groundwater, septic tanks were further improved.