the earliest archaeological record of an advanced system of drainage comes from the indus valley civilization from around 3100 bc in what is now pakistan and north india. the ancient indus systems of sewerage and drainage that were developed and used in cities throughout the civilization were far more advanced than any found in contemporary urban sites in the middle east and even more efficient than those in some areas of modern pakistan and india today. all houses in the major cities of harappa and mohenjo-daro had access to water and drainage facilities. waste water was directed to covered drains, which lined the major streets.