Water Sustainability The History of Water Sustainability Unit

Water Sustainability: The History of Water Sustainability Unit 2 Lesson 1 Power. Point 2

How long have humans sought to sustain water? 100, 000 BC 10, 000 BC Hunter/Gatherers Nomadic Tribes Went looking for their water. Around 10, 000 BC Agricultural Revolution Civilizations Had to sustain their water.

Water…A density-dependent limiting factor for the ancients. � The inefficiencies of collecting water limited population growth. � The early ancient civilizations had to find efficient means for supplying water in mass quantities to increase their population size. � No population can live outside its means.

Ancient Methods for Water Sustainability � Wells water – tap into aquifers for fresh drinking ◦ Aquifer - A body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater. �Aquifers are a limited resource; eventually they will dry out if not conserved properly. This is known as aquifer depletion. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=-q. R 0 Uke 2 XNI

Ancient Methods for Water Sustainability � Dams – ancients would dam up streams and create reservoirs. ◦ Reservoirs - A large natural (found in nature) or artificial (man-made) lake used as a source of water supply

Ancient Methods for Water Sustainability � Canals - trenches dug that feed from existing streams or get their contents from man-made reservoirs. Allows one to redirect the flow of water. ◦ Two types: �Waterways – were built all across western Europe (imagine a railroad system that carries boats instead of trains) �Aqueduct – water supply canals that are used for the delivery of potable water for human consumption. �Potable water – drinking water (water of high quality that can be consumed or used without the risk of immediate or long term harm)

The Aqueduct � Aqueducts have been supplying civilizations with potable water for centuries. � Ancient Rome was the first civilization to produce aqueducts on a grand scale that could supply entire cities. � The city of Rome supported a population of over 1 million through the use of their aqueducts. � Water became a part of Roman life. � At the same time, most of the world still had to gather their water from streams, reservoirs, or wells.

Gravity and the aqueduct… � Roman aqueducts were powered solely by gravity. There were no pumps involved.

Keeping the Romans Clean � Rome was a very wealthy and clean city during its prime. Thanks to the aqueducts, the average Roman could bathe in public bath houses, potable water could be pumped to drinking fountains, and raw sewage able to be pumped out of the city.

The Fall of Rome � After the fall of Rome and the destruction of the aqueducts, Rome lost nearly 90% of its population. � Water sustainability is important!