WATER AND WASTE WATER IN IMPERIAL ROME¹

Abstract

Rome is noted for its water and waste water systems which were constructed during ancient times. This paper is a discussion of the impact these systems had on living conditions in the imperial city. Rome's water system provided a constant supply to centrally located areas in contrast to modern systems which deliver water on demand to individual connections. For both water and waste water systems, access points were generally outside the household. Because of this lack of individual connections, Romans were forced to spend much of their time outside their tenements in the baths, latrines, arenas, streets, and shops of the imperial city.

Ancient water and sanitation systems – applicability for the contemporary urban developing world

“…Public water supplies were generally at fountains, with only an elite having private piped water, though bribing officials to tap aqueducts as weU as illegal connections were common "Assuming deiivered water is equivalent to bottied water then classed as improved if used in the household for cooking and personal hygiene. (Hansen 2011). Water delivery by a private contractor was also available (P&G 2005).…”

The Roman Aqueduct of Aquincum in Technological and Cultural Contexts

“…A row of parallel (lead) pipes left the other side of the tank and descended into the valley, crossed the bottom on a so-called 'venter' bridge and climbed up to the other side to the 'receiving' basin from which the water continued in a masonry channel to its destination" (Roman Aqueducts -An Introduction). Underground pipelines were equipped with manholes for inspection and maintenance (Hansen 1983). Once the water had been directed from the springs into the aqueduct, its flow was often interrupted by settling tanks to allow sediment to sink to the bottom while other devices regulated its flow.…”

A rainfall data analysis for the archeological drawing of the Augustan aqueduct route

“…Surprisingly, engineering and aesthetic issues were always effectively conjugated. Whenever possible Roman engineers followed, the steady downhill course at/or belowground level for constructing aqueducts [6][7][8][9]. Rome's aqueduct system was underground by approximately 87% [3].…”