Trap (plumbing)

An S-shaped trap is also known as an '''S-bend'''. It was invented by [[Alexander Cumming]] in 1775 but became known as the '''U-bend''' following the introduction of the U-shaped trap by [[Thomas Crapper]] in 1880. The new U-bend could not jam, so, unlike the S-bend, it did not need an overflow.

An S-shaped trap is also known as an '''S-bend'''. It was invented by [[Alexander Cumming]] in 1775 but became known as the '''U-bend''' following the introduction of the U-shaped trap by [[Thomas Crapper]] in 1880. The new U-bend could not jam, so, unlike the S-bend, it did not need an overflow.

Once invented, despite being simple and reasonably reliable, widespread use was slow coming. In Britain, the requirement to use traps was introduced only after the [[Great Stink]] in London, in the summer of 1858, when the objectionable smell of the [[River Thames]], which was effectively an open sewer, affected the nearby [[Houses of Parliament]]. That motivated the legislators to authorise the construction of a modern sewerage system in the city, of which the S-bend was an essential component. {{As of|2017}}, only about two-thirds of the world population have access to traps,{{cn|date=November 2018}} in spite of the evidence that good sewage systems significantly improve economic productivity in places that employ them. {{cite web

Once invented, despite being simple and reasonably reliable, widespread use was slow coming. In Britain, the requirement to use traps was introduced only after the [[Great Stink]] in London, in the summer of 1858, when the objectionable smell of the [[River Thames]], which was effectively an open sewer, affected the nearby [[Houses of Parliament]]. That motivated the legislators to authorise the construction of a modern sewerage system in the city, of which the S-bend was an essential component. {{As of|2017}}, only about two-thirds of the world population have access to traps,{{cite report |author1=WHO |author2=UNICEF |title=Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2017: Special focus on inequalities |publisher=Joint Monitoring Programme|location=New York |year=2019 |isbn=978-92-4-151623-5 |url=https://washdata.org/report/jmp-2019-wash-households}} in spite of the evidence that good sewage systems significantly improve economic productivity in places that employ them. {{cite web

| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csv3gp

| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csv3gp

| title = 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy: S-Bend

| title = 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy: S-Bend