Plumbing & Sanitary — Complete Guide

Plumbing & sanitary covers the entire water supply, drainage & fixture system of a building — the pipes that carry water in & waste out, and the fixtures people use daily (toilets, basins, sinks, taps, geysers). Quality plumbing materials prevent leaks, ensure hygiene, and last for decades. This category covers all plumbing & sanitaryware materials for Indian homes.

These materials follow IS 15778 (CPVC), IS 4985 (UPVC), IS 2556 (sanitaryware), IS 2082 (geysers). Top brands: Astral, Supreme, Finolex, Jaquar, Hindware, Cera, AO Smith.

Materials in this Category

Material	Function
PVC / CPVC / UPVC Pipes	Water supply & drainage pipes
GI & Copper Pipes	Metal supply / fire / gas lines
EWC (Toilet Seats)	Western water closets
Wash Basins & Urinals	Hand wash & urinals
Kitchen Sinks	Kitchen washing
Faucets, Taps & Showers	Water delivery / control
Overhead & Underground Tanks	Water storage
Geysers & Water Heaters	Hot water

The Plumbing System

WATER SOURCE (municipal / borewell)
  ↓
UNDERGROUND TANK / SUMP → pump → OVERHEAD TANK
  ↓ (gravity)
CPVC / UPVC PIPES (cold) + GEYSER (hot)
  ↓
FAUCETS / SHOWERS → BASINS, SINKS, WC
  ↓
DRAINAGE (PVC SWR pipes) → sewer

Pipe Selection Quick Guide

Application	Recommended Pipe
Hot & cold water supply	CPVC
Cold water supply	UPVC / CPVC
Drainage / soil-waste	PVC (SWR)
Premium / hot water	Copper
Exposed / fire lines	GI

How to Choose

Water supply: CPVC (hot+cold), UPVC (cold) — see pipes
Toilets: Wall-hung / floor EWC with dual flush
Basins: Counter-top / wall-hung per design
Kitchen: SS 304 or quartz sink
Taps: Brass body + ceramic cartridge
Storage: Multi-layer plastic tanks + sump
Hot water: Storage geyser (bath), instant (kitchen), solar (eco)

Cost Overview (Approximate, 2025-26)

Item	Cost
CPVC Pipe (per m)	Rs 50 – 230
EWC (toilet)	Rs 3,500 – 30,000
Wash Basin	Rs 900 – 18,000
Kitchen Sink (SS 304)	Rs 2,500 – 18,000
Faucet / Tap	Rs 300 – 8,000
Water Tank 1000 L	Rs 5,000 – 12,000
Geyser 15–25 L	Rs 5,500 – 16,000

Best Practices

Use ISI-marked CPVC for hot/cold supply, PVC for drainage
Use correct solvent cement (CPVC needs CPVC cement)
Pressure-test lines before concealing
Maintain drainage slope (1:40 to 1:60)
Provide traps & vents on drainage
Use brass + ceramic cartridge faucets (durable)
Use dual-flush EWC (water saving)
Use food-grade multi-layer water tanks; clean every 6 months
Provide dedicated MCB + earthing for geysers
Follow IS 2065 (water supply code)

Applicable Standards

Standard	Description
IS 15778	CPVC Pipes
IS 4985 / IS 13592	UPVC / Drainage Pipes
IS 2556	Vitreous Sanitary Appliances
IS 8931 / IS 781	Taps & Bib Cocks
IS 12701	Water Storage Tanks
IS 2082	Electric Water Heaters
IS 2065	Water Supply in Buildings

Conclusion

A reliable plumbing & sanitary system combines quality pipes (CPVC for supply, PVC for drainage), well-chosen fixtures, adequate water storage, and efficient water heating. Use ISI-marked materials, correct jointing, proper slopes & traps, and pressure-test before concealing. Explore each in detail: PVC/CPVC/UPVC pipes, GI & copper pipes, EWC, wash basins & urinals, kitchen sinks, faucets & showers, water tanks and geysers.

See all categories on the construction materials page.

Plumbing & Sanitary