Transcript ROMAN WATER SYSTEMS

ROMAN WATER SYSTEMS
AQUEDUCTS
• Aqueducts are man-made conduits for
carrying water (Latin aqua, "water," and
ducere, "to lead").
• In a more restricted sense, aqueducts
are structures used to conduct a water
stream across a hollow or valley.
• The aqueducts were built from a
combination of stone, brick and the
special volcanic cement pozzuolana
• Over a period of 500 years--from 312
BC to AD 226--11 aqueducts were built
to bring water to Rome from as far
away as 57 miles (92 kilometers).
• Only a portion of Rome's aqueduct
system actually crossed over valleys on
stone arches (30 miles out of a total of
about 260 miles); the rest consisted of
underground conduits made mostly of
stone and terra cotta pipe but also of
wood, leather, lead, and bronze.
• Water flowed to the city by the force of
gravity alone and usually went through
a series of distribution tanks within the
city.
• Generally water was not stored, and the
excess was used to flush out sewers.
Rome's famous fountains were also
supplied in this way.
• Once in or near Rome, water from the
aqueducts passed into large, covered
catch-basins. Here waters were
supposed to deposit their sediment.
Waters from the catch-basins were
distributed through free-flowing canals,
lead pipes, and terra-cotta pipes to
storage reservoirs and then through
lead pipes (called fistulae) to users.
• Besides private connections and
fountains, the aqueducts supplied water
to latrines. Many of Rome's were
sumptuous. All around the circular or
rectangular structure, water flowed
continuously in small channels.
• One of the more elaborate
establishments had 20 seats made of
marble and each seat was framed by
sculptured brackets in the form of
dolphins. Occasionally the latrine was
cheered by the sounds and sights of a
fountain. Latrines were heated; nothing
is colder than marble.
• Water from the baths, latrines, palaces,
fountains, etc., as well as other urban
runoff was discharged into Rome's
drainage and wastewater collection
system.
• Rome's sewers and drains emptied
directly into the Tiber
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
POMPEII
STREETS
• The streets were angled so that water
flowed into the drains.
• They were also equipped with stepping
stones so that people did not have to
walk in the water and filth that was on
the streets.
PUBLIC WATER
• All streets in Rome had public water
fountains.
• This was for people who could not
afford to have water pumped directly to
their homes.
PIPES
• Because of the series on natural disasters
Pompeii had, their water system was not as
extensive as when the city was at its height.
• However, several lead pipes have been found
still in position.
• Also, water sorting stations that were still
operational when Mt Vesuvius erupted have
been found.