Ricerc@Sapienza

The aqueducts are the most impressive and original building of the ancient Rome. The aqueducts moved water only by gravity, being constructed with a slight downward slope, within conduits of stone, brick or concrete. All along valleys or plains, the conduit was supported by buildings with arches, or its contents were placed to pressure in lead, ceramic or stone pipes. The aim of this work is to study and determine the slope and so to evaluate the actual flows, considering also that the area is interested by crustal movements.

The aqueducts are the most impressive and original building of the ancient Rome. Until the year 312 B.C. the Romans
were satisfied to use the water that drew from the Tiber, from wells and springs. Subsequently, with the increase of the city, it became more and more urgent the problem of water supply and, especially following the diffusion of the baths (Fig. 1), the wells and springs were no longer sufficient. The Romans then began to build numerous aqueducts to bring water from distant sources in their cities, supplying thermal baths, fountains and private homes.