Plumbing Facts & Statistics Australia

Plumbing Statistics and Facts in Australia

• In 2020, there were 90,800 registered plumbers in Australia. That is 8200 more compared to the 2018 report.
• There are 26,700 registered plumbing service businesses in Australia; up by 0.07 from 2020.
• The plumbing industry in Australia has a market value of $15.9 billion.
• There are 5 main types of plumbers namely: Residential, Commercial, Sanitary, Water Supply, and Service and Repairs.
• The average pay of a plumber in Australia is $37.5 per hour.
• All types of industries, communities and sectors in Australia rely on plumbing services.
• The top 4 industries that need plumbing expertise are construction, small businesses, restaurant, and real estate.
• Australian homes spend 30% of their water usage in the shower.
• Plumbers working in Victoria need a license and certification from the Victorian Building Authority and Victorian Plumbing Regulations 2018.
• Plumbing jobs in Victoria that exceed $750 in total expenses need to procure a compliance certificate.
• Compliance certificates are only issued by licensed plumbers.
• The fast-growing growth of major cities like Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney has conversely increased the demand for plumbers and job opportunities.
• Plumbing work revolves around the following 8 distinct specialties: Water Supply, Gasfitting, Sanitary, Roofing (Stormwater), Drainage, Irrigation, Fire Protection, and Mechanical Services.
• 19% of the water used in our homes is used to flush the toilet.
• The roofing specialty of plumbers is considered to be the 4th deadliest occupation.
• The average gross annual salary for plumbers in Australia is ranked 2nd in the list of the highest paying countries in the world.
• Owning a plumbing business in Australia will require 4 years of apprenticeship, 2 years in college, a certification program, and a licensure exam.

Interesting Facts About Plumbing

While the statistics above mainly discusses the state of the plumbing industry in Australia, this section is about interesting general facts about plumbing and the fresh water we consume. This read will show how significant the plumbing industry is in terms of providing convenience to us and aiding civilisation as it moves forward.

Let’s get started. 

• Plumbing services started about 5000 years ago. Plumbing pipes used during that time were made from hardened mud. These pipes were used for water transportation and draining wastes.
• Flushing toilets were already used during the time of the Roman empire. However, only the rich and privileged were able to use them. After the fall of the empire, technology was lost for more than a thousand years until 1596.
• It was not until in the year 1775 that the modern flush toilet was said to be “commonly” used in homes.
• Water pipes were first used in plumbing in ancient Egypt 3,000 years ago. The pipes were made of copper.
• Most plumbing systems found in modern homes today are made of copper.
• The Romans on the other hand, were first to use lead pipes for transporting water to their homes.
• The term plumbing is derived from “plumbum” which means lead.
• World Plumbing Day is celebrated on March 11.
• In this modern age of technology, 11% of the world population still defecate in the open.
• Flushable wipes aren’t flushable at all. They are a plumber’s nightmare.
• Snakes have been reported to enter homes from the toilet bowl.
• A leaky water pipe or faucet dripping at one drop per second will cost you a lot in monthly bills. That’s equivalent to 75 litres per month.
• Leaking taps are the most common plumbing problem in the world. It is also the most disregarded problem.

This article will be continuously updated as we gather more interesting facts and the latest statistics. Keep an eye out!