Modern cities struggle to provide enough water for their residents, but ancient Rome had it figured out 2,000 years ago. They built 11 massive aqueducts that supplied the city with over 300 million gallons of water every day. 🤯 That's enough to fill 450 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Every. Single. Day.
The Romans were absolute masters of engineering. Their aqueducts were a network of tunnels, pipes, and bridges that stretched for up to 57 miles (92 km) to bring fresh water from distant springs and lakes right into the heart of the city. And they did it all without modern technology. 🤯
How did it work? Gravity. The aqueducts were built on a slight downward slope—just a few inches for every 100 feet—that kept the water flowing constantly. It was a massive undertaking that took 500 years to complete.
So what did they do with all that water? They lived it up. 💅
The water system was so advanced that some of the ancient aqueducts are still in use today. The Aqua Virgo, built in 19 B.C., still supplies water to the famous Trevi Fountain. ⛲
The Roman aqueducts are a testament to their incredible engineering skills. They were built to last, and they did. While modern cities are constantly dealing with water shortages and failing infrastructure, Rome had a sustainable water system 2,000 years ago. Modern cities could never. 😂
1. Rome on Rome - "Ancient water and the Park of the Aqueducts"
A great overview of the sheer volume of water the aqueducts brought into the city.
2. National Geographic - "Roman Aqueducts"
This article explains the engineering behind the aqueducts and how they worked.
3. Wikipedia - "Roman aqueduct"
The Wikipedia page has a comprehensive list of all 11 Roman aqueducts and their history.
