Title: Ancient water supply systems in Israel

Authors: Gideon Oron

Addresses: Blaustein Institute for desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Zuckerberg Water Research Institute, Kiryat Sde-Boker 84990, Israel

Abstract: Aqueducts are part of ancient artificial water supply systems conveying water, usually by gravity, from a water source to a water demand site. The water source could be a spring, a river or a reservoir and others. Conductance was mainly based on small amounts and the flow rate of the conveying system was usually relatively low. Many historical remains of such conveying systems still exist in Israel, some of which dating thousands of years ago. The main conclusions which can be drawn from studying these ancient systems are: 1) water was conducted from water rich areas to large cities; 2) to cross deep rivers, these systems applied some of the principles still used today such as gravity flow and construction of siphons; 3) storage was and is a useful tool to supply water permanently.

Keywords: aqueducts; ancient water systems; Qanats; water reuse; Israel; antiquity; water supply; gravity flow; siphons; water storage.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2015.071852

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2015 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.216 - 225

Received: 30 Aug 2014
Accepted: 14 Nov 2014
Published online: 21 Sep 2015 *

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