However , there were some plumbing pipes in the city settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization by 2700 B.C. Plumbing was also used during the ancient civilizations such as the Greek , Roman , Persian , Indian , and Chinese civilizations as they built public baths and needed drinking water , and somewhere to drain waste . Standardized earthen plumbing pipes with broad flanges making use of asphalt for preventing leakages appeared in the urban settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization by 2700 B.C. Plumbing originated during the ancient civilizations such as the Greek , Roman , Persian , Indian , and Chinese civilizations as they developed public baths and needed to provide potable water , and drainage of wastes .