Plumbing refers to any system that transports fluids for a variety of purposes. To transport fluids, plumbing employs pipes, valves, plumbing fittings, tanks, and other devices. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste collection, and potable water delivery are some of the most prominent applications for plumbing, although they are not the only ones.The term is derived from the Latin word for lead, plumbum, because the first functional pipes used during the Roman era were lead pipes.