Hermanowski-Aqueducts

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Roman Aqueducts! Before the Romans built the aqueducts they used to go to the river for all of their water. They would get a bucket fill it with water, and then carry it all the way back to their homes. The first aqueducts were built high in the mountains and got the water from mountain springs and gravity was used to force the water down from the hills into the city. The first aqueduct was built in 312 BC. The Romans would dig wells to find springs and then they would dig down to the water table and then build an underground tunnel to begin an aqueduct. The tunnels hid the water from Rome’s enemies. When Rome got bigger they were not as unprotected. They built the aqueducts above ground. Only 10% of aqueducts were above ground. Inspection manholes allowed people to inspect or repair the aqueducts and to make sure that water was not being stolen. Water from the aqueducts was used for public fountains, private connections (homes and farms) and latrines. The Romans used settling tanks so that mud and sediments could settle on the bottom and let the water continue to flow. Originally the Romans wanted the water for their baths but when the population increased they used it for drinking. Water did not go to all of the citizens, and only the rich were able to get it into their homes. Aqueducts were built because the springs, wells and the Tiber River could no longer provide safe water as the Roman population increased. The Aqueducts were mainly destroyed by the Gauls during their invasion of Rome and then people had to go to the Tiber River again for water. Over a period of about 500 years, 312 BC-226 AD eleven aqueducts were built to bring water into Rome from as far away as 57 miles. the system of plumbing we have today has evaluated to us by the roman aqueducts, if the romans hadnt made aqueducts then we wouldnt have the plumbing system we have today.

This is an underground aqueduct

and this is an above-ground aqueduct