Sanitation in modern building is given far more consideration than at any time in the history of architecture. Not only is this true in regard to the increased size of living rooms, the provision made for light and air, and the introduction of ventilation in connection with heating systems, but more particularly in the wonderful improvements in plumbing, both as regards the drainage systems, the water supply and the fixtures. The improvements in workmanship, materials and the systems of installation have so changed the character of plumbing that new standards of comparison are required to determine the quality of work. For instance, while formerly plumbing fixtures were hidden in illy-ventilated, poorly-lighted, out-of-the-way places, and used only as necessities, they now occupy a prominent place in the household of the intelligent, and have become a luxury as well as a necessity.

The improvements in fixtures consist chiefly in substituting porcelain enameled ware for the plain iron, copper, earthenware and wood formerly used; the prohibition of all mechanical closets, with their large fouling chambers, and adopting instead closet bowls with traps combined that are vitreous, non-corrosive and non-absorbent both inside and outside; the connecting of all waste pipes from fixtures with a trap placed as close to the fixture as possible, and, not least in importance, the setting of all fixtures open instead of boxing them in wood, thus doing away with the old incubators for vermin and catch-alls for filth.

The improvements in the systems of drainage within a building consist of the use of properly proportioned piping, the sizes of pipe being determined by calculation instead of by guess as of old; the perfection of a system of ventilation to keep the air within the drains comparatively pure; improvement in the shapes of fittings; increased weight and better qualities of pipe used, and better methods of joining the pipes; these all contribute their share to the improvement of the system as a whole. Results of bacteriological investigations having shown that more disease enters a building through the water supply than from the drainage system, certain precautions are taken to minimize the danger from this source. The source of the water supply is selected where there is least danger of contamination or infection, and care is taken to protect the water from pollution while in storage; also ample time is allowed for sedimentation and sunlight to remove bacteria before the water is delivered into the distributing mains. In some places the municipal supply of water is filtered through germ-proof filters before it is delivered to the consumers. Where this is not done separate house filters may be installed by consumers for their own protection.