Our word "Plumber" derives from the medieval French word Plummier, which means lead worker, relating to a time when pipes were made of lead. When it's the time to call the plumber, it is almost always an urgent moment. The properties of fluids lend themselves to the control and use of a wide range of applications beyond our home plumbing. On a grand scale are huge projects such as the Panama Canal and Boulder (Hoover) Dam. The use of water engineering in the form of steam power is seen in Robert Fulton's steamboats and steam locomotives that provided the tools to develop vast portions of our country. An even more economical way of shipping liquids is the use of plumbing with giant pipelines. When talking plumbing, some individuals think of circuits, integrated circuits, and powerful computer chips that function because of the flow of electricity. While technically not fluid, the flow of electricity is a powerful analogy. In every aspect and application, plumbing is a vital part of our life-styles.
