Access to Clean Water:Transport of Water

Africa and Southeast Asia

STEAM PROJECT

Project

• Challenge: The Museum of Natural Sciences is updating their collection to include more interactive and engaging exhibits and they have approached your team to construct a new exhibit about soil and water conservation and the history of transportation of clean water in Africa and Southeast Asia. Your team will create mini exhibits to show your vast and expansive knowledge of these topics to the public.

Driving Questions

• How do aqueducts assist in the transport of water?

• How have aqueducts changed from ancient times to the present?

• Why is access to clean water through the transport of water so important and necessary?

Fast Facts

• 40 percent of people in Africa lack access to clean water• 53 percent of people in Asia lack access to clean water• In many cities, 15-40 percent of water is lost to leaking

pipes• Nearly a billion people are lacking safe drinking water

around the world• 2.7 billion are lacking adequate sanitation• 800 people die every single day from waterborne

diseases

Water Transportation

• Water Transportation is the intentional movement of water over long distances.

• There are three main types: aqueducts, container shipment, and towing.

• We are going to focus on the transport of water through aqueduct systems in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Aqueducts

• An aqueduct is a watercourse constructed to convey water.

• In modern engineering, aqueducts are any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels and other structures for the purpose of transporting water.

• In ancient times and today, aqueducts were used for irrigation and to supply drinking water.

Canal

Aqueduct

Aqueduct

Aqueduct

Aqueduct

Ancient vs. Modern Aqueducts

Ancient Aqueducts-Roman Empire• Aqueducts are very well-known throughout the studies of

Ancient Rome. • Roman Aqueducts were built in all parts of the ROMAN

EMPIRE from Germany to Africa.• These aqueducts were used for public baths, drinking water,

and irrigation.• These aqueducts set the standard for the engineering of

aqueducts throughout the ancient world and the modern era.

• Bridges built in stone with multiple arches were common features of Roman aqueducts.

Ancient Aqueducts-India

• The Indian subcontinent is believed to have some of the earliest aqueducts.

• The massive aqueducts were supplying irrigation water.

• These also supplied royal bath tubs with water.

Ancient Aqueducts-Persia

• Persia had a system of underground aqueducts. These were well-constructed and connected by gently sloping tunnels.

• They relied on gravity, so they had the destination lower than the source.

Ancient Aqueducts-Jordan

• Throughout Petra, Jordan, engineers took advantage of every natural spring and winter downpour to channel water where it was needed.

Examples of Major Water Transportation Projects

• Grand Canal of China- finished in 7th century AD

• California Aqueduct near Sacramento, California

• Great Manmade River- a vast underground network of pipes in the Sahara Desert

So.. Why Africa and Southeast Asia?

• We are researching and designing aqueducts for Africa and Southeast Asia because these are two regions of the world that need access to clean water through the transport of water VERY desperately.

Today’s Guidelines

• Today you will be doing research about aqueducts.

• You will type your research directly onto your research sheet from my website.

• You will then be able to e-mail all of your research to the two people in charge of the Transport of Water Exhibit, so they can use it for the construction of their project.

Sources

• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/drinking-water-sanitation/

• http://someinterestingfacts.net/how-roman-aqueducts-were-made/

• http://www.traianvs.net/textos/hydraulic_in.htm

• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/31132/aqueduct