How a Roman Aqueduct Carried Water

The Romans built long stone channels called aqueducts to bring fresh water from the hills to their towns. The channel sloped down very gently, so gravity kept the water flowing the whole way.

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In the picture

Water from a spring in the hills flows into the stone channel.
Inside the covered channel, gravity makes the water flow slowly downhill.
Tall arches hold the channel up so it can cross the valley at the right height.
A water tank in town sends the water through pipes to fountains, baths and homes.

Examples

A rain gutter tilts slightly so rainwater runs to the drainpipe.
On a pool’s water slide, the water runs down along the slope.

Key takeaways

Aqueducts had no pumps: gravity moved the water along a very gentle slope.
Most of an aqueduct ran underground, and arches were used only to cross valleys.