Build A Roman Aqueduct

Aqueducts are one of the architectural wonders of the Roman Empire. They supplied fresh, clean water to Roman cities for drinking, irrigation, and for public baths and fountains, often over many miles. These aqueducts were a revolutionary idea that changed the world forever. To this day, as civilizations grow across the world, finding access to fresh and clean water for community use can be a challenge.

Learn how to create your very own aqueduct. It’s easier than you might think!

Materials Needed:

• plastic sheet or beach towel (use as a drop cloth)
• empty 2-liter soda bottle and cap
• bucket
• duct tape
• about 3-7 feet of clear vinyl tubing (3/8″ outside diameter – found cheaply at most hardware & home improvement stores)
• table & chairs
• blocks or books
• 2 liters water
• scissors
• electric drill or screwdriver

Directions:

1. Drill 3/8” hole in the top of 2-liter soda bottle cap. This allows your clear vinyl tubing to fit into it.

2. Design a “course” for your aqueduct to travel through. A good idea is to start from a table and allow your aqueduct to drain down into a bucket, about 3-5 feet away. You can prop up books along the way to create your own obstacle course. Start simple and adjust as you learn more about how the aqueduct works. Use duct tape to hold down the tubing across the course. Place a plastic sheet or beach towel underneath your course in case of leakage.

3. When you are ready to test your course, fill the soda bottle at least half full with water and allow it to flow into the tubing. Watch how the water moves through your aqueduct course … did it make it all the way into the bucket? Adjust as necessary. You want the water to freely flow through the tubing. This is how it would have worked in the Roman aqueduct system.

4. After successful completion, modify your course to make it a little bit harder. Add a low hill or other feature that your water must cross over.