Although the Romans built bridges, roads, and some incredible public buildings and stadiums, one of the most incredible features of engineering that the Romans achieved was the building of the aqueducts. Between 312 B.C and 226 A.D, the Romans had constructed 11 major aqueducts throughout the city. Aqueducts were navigable channels of water supply that transported water over long distances from “stable and pure mountain springs” and then distributed throughout the city (Humphrey, 46). Most aqueducts were generally built from a combination of bricks, stones, and their secret concrete ingredient, pozzolana. Aqueducts were built not only to supply water to its million and more inhabitants, but to transport a consistent flow of water to public baths, latrines, fountain houses and private households.
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Most were buried beneath the ground, and followed its contours; obstructing peaks were circumvented or less often, tunneled through” (Ancient Roman Aqueducts, 2017). Surface sections of the conduit were cut into the ground, lined with masonry or concrete and finished with smooth cement to reduce friction and seal the joints. For conduits that ran above ground, following the contours of land, the Romans built bridges, also known as arcades, with brick-faced concrete to transport water over low spots in the terrain. Since Romans were reasonably concerned about the sustainability of their structures, conduits were usually built across valleys on arches of brick, concrete, or masonry. With concrete being a quintessential aspect in the building of aqueducts, Romans utilized this invention in the use of all water technologies not because it was waterproof, but because of its strength and
Most were buried beneath the ground, and followed its contours; obstructing peaks were circumvented or less often, tunneled through” (Ancient Roman Aqueducts, 2017). Surface sections of the conduit were cut into the ground, lined with masonry or concrete and finished with smooth cement to reduce friction and seal the joints. For conduits that ran above ground, following the contours of land, the Romans built bridges, also known as arcades, with brick-faced concrete to transport water over low spots in the terrain. Since Romans were reasonably concerned about the sustainability of their structures, conduits were usually built across valleys on arches of brick, concrete, or masonry. With concrete being a quintessential aspect in the building of aqueducts, Romans utilized this invention in the use of all water technologies not because it was waterproof, but because of its strength and