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 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.