11. Still in use?

Are Roman aqueducts still in use today?		 On the internet there are enough stupid answers to good questions.
Here a set of questions with relevant answers, some of which are linked to related subject as discussed at other places within this website www.romanaqueducts.info

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Questions

  1. Are Roman aqueducts still in use today?
  2. Does Europe still use Roman aqueducts
  3. Where are Roman aqueducts still in use today?
The Roman Proserpina dam is located about 10 km north of Merida, was build in the first century AD, is 427 m long, 12 m high and is on top 2,3 m wide. It is an earth dam covered with bricks, has two bends in the crest and nine buttresses on the inner side of the dam. Two inlet towers are placed on the inside of the dam construction, the start of the aqueduct channel to Merida (Spain). At present the dam is still in tact and its water is now used for local irrigation.
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Answer

There are quite a few examples of Roman aqueducts that are still in use today, generally in part and/or after reconstruction. The famous Trevi-fountain in Rome is still fed by aqueduct water from the same sources of the ancient Aqua Virgo; however, the Acqua Vergine Nuova is now a pressurized aqueduct. In Frejus (France) the 20th c water supply system follows the same course to a great extent as the ancient predecessor but its water is now used only for irrigation. The antique Proserpina dam, the start of one of the aqueducts of Roman Merida (Spain) is still supplying the local farmers in the area with water. There are lots of other examples.

In many cases only the same water source is still in use and/or the substruction got a new lease of life in supporting younger instances of ancient aqueducts. In recent history there a many examples of studies to reopen ancient aqueduct lines, as in the case of the aqueduct at Nimes (France), known from the famous Pont du Gard.

Modern aqueducts can be find in countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, Turkey and Israel.