<P> Some of the earliest evidence of water wells are located in China . The neolithic Chinese discovered and made extensive use of deep drilled groundwater for drinking . The Chinese text The Book of Changes, originally a divination text of the Western Zhou dynasty (1046 - 771 BC), contains an entry describing how the ancient Chinese maintained their wells and protected their sources of water . Archaeological evidence and old Chinese documents reveal that the prehistoric and ancient Chinese had the aptitude and skills for digging deep water wells for drinking water as as early as 6000 to 7000 years ago . A well excavated at the Hemedu excavation site was believed to have been built during the neolithic era . The well was cased by four rows of logs with a square frame attached to them at the top of the well . 60 additional tile wells southwest of Beijing are also believed to have been built around 600 BC for drinking and irrigation . Plumbing is also known to have been used in East Asia since the Qin and Han Dynasties of China . </P> <P> The ancient Greek civilization of Crete, known as the Minoan civilization, was the first civilization to use underground clay pipes for sanitation and water supply . Their capital, Knossos, had a well - organized water system for bringing in clean water, taking out waste water and storm sewage canals for overflow when there was heavy rain . It was also one of the first uses of a flush toilet, dating back to 18th century BC . The Minoan civilization had stone sewers that were periodically flushed with clean water . In addition to sophisticated water and sewer systems they devised elaborate heating systems . The Ancient Greeks of Athens and Asia Minor also used an indoor plumbing system, used for pressurized showers . The Greek inventor Heron used pressurized piping for fire fighting purposes in the City of Alexandria . The Mayans were the third earliest civilization to have employed a system of indoor plumbing using pressurized water . </P> <P> An inverted siphon system, along with glass covered clay pipes, was used for the first time in the palaces of Crete, Greece . It is still in working condition, after about 3000 years . </P> <P> In ancient Rome, the Cloaca Maxima, considered a marvel of engineering, disgorged into the Tiber . </P>

When did indoor plumbing became common in america