Why did ancient Romans use lead to make water pipes?

Ancient Romans utilized lead extensively for water pipes and cisterns primarily due to the metal's physical properties and ease of fabrication. Lead is soft and malleable, allowing it to be easily cast and shaped into standard diameters for plumbing systems, which were essential for supplying fresh water to public baths and private residences.123

While the Romans were highly skilled in engineering these systems, the use of lead was not without controversy even in antiquity. The Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius explicitly warned against using lead pipes, recommending clay alternatives instead, and noted the health hazards faced by workers in lead factories. Despite these concerns, the durability and corrosion resistance of the metal made it a preferred material for architectural fittings and water conveyance for centuries. The widespread use of the metal is reflected in the Latin word plumbum, which is the origin of the modern term "plumbing" and the chemical symbol Pb.312