How did the Latin word plumbum give rise to the word plumbing?

The English word plumbing is derived from the Latin word plumbum, which means lead.12

In ancient Rome, lead was a primary material used to fabricate pipes for water supply systems and wastewater drainage. Because of this widespread application, the Latin term plumbarius—referring to a worker in lead—eventually evolved into the English term "plumber". Consequently, the trade of installing and maintaining these piping systems became known as plumbing.1234

This connection also explains the chemical symbol for lead, Pb, which is an abbreviation of plumbum. While the Romans were highly skilled in using lead for infrastructure, it is worth noting that Roman engineers like Vitruvius were aware of the potential health risks associated with lead exposure and sometimes recommended alternative materials like clay for water conveyance.25