Final answer:
The claim that plumbing systems during the dark ages were used for fire suppression is false. They were mainly designed for water supply, personal hygiene, ritualistic cleansing, and waste disposal, with the sewer system in Rome disposing of untreated waste into the Tiber River.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that plumbing systems during the dark ages were used for fire suppression is false. During the time referred to as the dark ages, water supply systems were indeed an impressive engineering feat, particularly in places like Rome. However, the primary use of these systems included drainage, wastewater management, and potable water supply. The engineering involved the construction of aqueducts to transport water from distant sources into cities through terracotta pipe systems that were gravity-fed. The water supply system was for everyday uses including ritualistic cleansing, personal hygiene, and in some cases, such as in palaces, even featured water-flushing toilets. Rome's sewer system was mainly for the disposal of human waste and other substances into the Tiber River, without any treatment of the waste before disposal.
In Rome, water from the aqueducts and natural sources was also utilized to flush waste through the sewers, with connections to these systems being a luxury often reserved for wealthier houses. Public latrines were available for most of the population at a cost, but they were not used for fire suppression. The assertion that plumbing was used for fire suppression during the dark ages reflects a misunderstanding of the true purpose of these early plumbing systems.