The Roman aqueducts were the pinnacle of ancient civilization's technological advancements.

The first aqueduct

in Rome was constructed in 312 B.C., and many more were added throughout the following five centuries. The
term "waterway" is Latin for the aqueducts. As much as 50 to 60 miles away from springs or rivers, these
underground and aboveground conduits, which were typically constructed of stone, brick, and volcanic cement,
delivered pure water for drinking and bathing. Aqueducts helped keep Romans healthy by carrying away used
water and waste, and they also took water to farms for irrigation.

To keep the water going, the engineers who created aqueducts used gravity. A steep canal would cause water to
flow too quickly and damage the surface. If the water was too shallow, it would stagnate and become
undrinkable. The Romans constructed bridges to cross valleys and tunnels to transport water across ridges.

Once it reached a city, the water flowed into a main tank called a castellum. The secondary castella was reached
by smaller pipes, and from there, lead pipes carried the water to public fountains and baths as well as some
private residences. Rome's expansive system, which was supplied by 11 different aqueducts, took 500 years to
construct. Rome's public fountains continue to operate continuously today, as do smaller faucets that give
everyone who stops for a drink pure water.