Roman Aqueducts

History

First water supply to Rome was via River Tiber & local springs.

With increased population water distribution became a problem.

The Creation of Aqueducts (first built in 312 B.C.) helped mitigate this problem.

How Aqueducts Work

Water ran through concrete channels. Multi-tiered viaducts. Developed by Roman engineers to

cross low areas.Aqueducts passed into large

catch-basins to deposit sediments and the water from these basins flowed through canals, lead & terra-cotta pipes to storage reservoirs.

From the reservoirs the water was distributed to the inhabitants of Rome.

Water movement occurred because of gravity.

Ancient Roman Aqueducts

Romans spent immense sums of money on aqueducts & baths. One of the most remarkable was the Claudian Aqueduct.

Provided water to the Colosseum Amphitheatre.

Featured high arches & beautiful pillars. First invention of aqueducts attributed to Appius Claudius.

Several others created after spanning forty miles together. Aqueducts built through mountains & any other impediments. In some places they were a hundred and nine feet high. Supplied 500,000 barrels every twenty-four hours.

Roman Bath

Trevi Fountain

Importance

Aqueducts help supply Rome with water to drink, wash and help in cultivating food.

The final destruction of Roman Aqueducts in 537 AD during a Goth siege, brought about the death of 90% of the Roman population. Lack of water supply!

Vancouver Water Supply

Metro Vancouver’s water system is one of biggest in North America. Five hundred eighty-five square kms of mountainous

land. Water collected from snowmelt, creeks and streams.

Water delivered through pipes and water mains to inhabitants of Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver Water Supply

Metro Vancouver gets its water from 3 sources: Capilano Reservoir Seymour Reservoir Coquitlam Reservoir

All 3 reservoirs provide around a one-third of the regions drinking water.

Treatment

Drinking water undergoes a number of tests and treatment processes before it arrives at its destination: your household or business site.

Filtration - to remove impurities from water.Primary Disinfection - kills bacteria and viruses

and makes water safe for drinking.Secondary Disinfection - uses chlorine to prevent

this from happening as water travels to homes, businesses, and industries.

Corrosion Control - adding low levels of soda ash (sodium carbonate) to water to reduce its corrosiveness.