| In the 9th century BC, ancient Rome is believed to | | | | made mostly under-ground while only 12 percent of |
| have originated on the western coastlines in the Italian | | | | channels were visible with arched features above the |
| peninsula. People in this civilization were engaged in | | | | ground. |
| agricultural work along the banks of Tiber River. | | | | The materials used in these constructions included |
| Gradually after annexations, the area under roman rule | | | | bricks, stones and cement that was made from |
| spread till the Mediterranean Sea and came to be | | | | volcanic lava called 'pozzuolana'. Gravity of flow was |
| known as the largest empire of the world. | | | | the basis for operation of this system. This system |
| Ancient Roman civilization boasts of many | | | | provided not only drinking water, but also for public |
| achievements to its credit. Channels for water supply | | | | utility like bath or fountains, and as sewerage for |
| called 'aqueducts' built by Romans is regarded as an | | | | drainage of dirty water. |
| engineering marvel. So well designed and constructed | | | | 'Vitruvius' who was a scholar from Rome authored a |
| are these systems that they are still in use in many | | | | book 'De Architectuta 'in the 1st century BC in which |
| places. Historians have been able to gauge the size of | | | | he described the entire methodology of constructing |
| many cities that existed in that era by studying the | | | | aqueducts. |
| extent of these water supply systems. | | | | This concept of water system was used by Frontinus |
| Aqueducts connected water supply to places where | | | | who was a general in Rome responsible for |
| wells could not be dug. At some places, these | | | | overseeing the construction of these water systems. |
| channels were dug even through rocks. These were | | | | |