Evolution of Water Supply Through the Millennia

Abstract

Evolution of Water Supply Through Millennia presents major achievements in scientific fields of water supply technologies and management throughout millennia. It provides valuable insights into ancient water supply technologies with their apparent characteristics of durability, adaptability to environment, and sustainability. A comparison of water technological developments in several civilizations is undertaken. These technologies are underpinning of modern achievements in water engineering and management practices. It is best proof that the past is key for future. Rapid technological progress in twentieth century created a disregard for past water technologies that were considered to be far behind present ones. There are a great deal of unresolved problems related to management principles, such as decentralization of processes, durability of water projects, cost effectiveness, and sustainability issues such as protection from floods and droughts. In developing world, such problems were intensified to an unprecedented degree. Moreover, new problems have arisen such as contamination of surface and groundwater. Naturally, intensification of unresolved problems led societies to revisit past and to reinvestigate successful past achievements. To their surprise, those who attempted this retrospect, based on archaeological, historical, and technical evidence were impressed by two things: similarity of principles with present ones and advanced level of water engineering and management practices. ISBN: 9781843395409 (Print) ISBN: 9781780401041 (eBook)