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Sanitation is a branch of civil engineering focused on maintaining environmental conditions that support public health. This includes ensuring pure water supplies, proper waste disposal, and insect control. Historically, improvements in sanitation have been crucial for public health, especially following epidemics and during periods of rapid population growth and industrialization.12

Adequate plumbing systems, which distribute potable water and remove waste, are essential for urban living. Early systems were often primitive, leading to the spread of diseases like typhoid fever through contaminated water. The development of separate underground water and sewage systems in the 19th century significantly improved sanitation and public health. Public health, in turn, is the science of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting well-being through measures like sanitation, hygiene, and controlling infectious diseases. Proper food handling and hygiene are also vital components of preventing foodborne illnesses.345

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