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The Lab With Brad

The Lab With Brad

Ep450: What’s a thirsty Roman to do?

Jul 24, 2026 · 13 min · 11 segments

What’s a thirsty Roman to do? Kick back with a cool glass of water while we have a look at Roman aqueducts. Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff! Here’s an article on…

What’s a thirsty Roman to do? Kick back with a cool glass of water while we have a look at Roman aqueducts. Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff! Here’s an article on how modern water systems work. How City Water Gets to Your Home: From Source to Tap Here are some videos on how Roman aqueducts work. How Did Roman Aqueducts Work? The engineering of roman aqueducts explained Roman Aqueducts

What’s a thirsty Roman to do? Kick back with a cool glass of water while we have a look at Roman aqueducts. Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff! Here’s an article on…

Speakers: Brad BartonHostPhil BartonHost

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈122 followers

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Top entities: Rome×11 Constantinople×4 Roman aqueduct Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning France×3

Roman Aqueduct History Overview1:16 – 2:30

Brad BartonHost

1:16

Yes.

Brad BartonHost

1:16

Which is how they got their water from point A to point B. Mm-hmm.

Phil BartonHost

1:20

Sometimes,

Brad BartonHost

1:21

yeah.

Brad BartonHost

1:21

They didn't invent the aqueducts, but as typical with Romans, once they decided to do it, they went big.

Brad BartonHost

1:29

Right.

Phil BartonHost

1:31

As

Brad BartonHost

1:32

far as the city of Rome itself goes, the first aqueduct was built in 312 BC.

Brad BartonHost

1:36

By the time we get to the 3rd

Phil BartonHost

1:38

century

Brad BartonHost

1:39

AD...

Brad BartonHost

1:43

There were 11 major aqueducts.

Brad BartonHost

1:45

Oh,

Phil BartonHost

1:45

cool.

Brad BartonHost

1:46

Feeding the city approximately 1 million cubic meters a day.

Brad BartonHost

1:50

Wow.

Phil BartonHost

1:51

A

Brad BartonHost

1:51

lot of water.

Brad BartonHost

1:52

Yeah.

Brad BartonHost

1:56

The longest one, it wasn't the city of Rome or feeding the city of Rome.

Brad BartonHost

2:00

It was actually feeding Constantinople.

Phil BartonHost

2:02

Oh, okay.

Phil BartonHost

2:04

Long time

Brad BartonHost

2:04

gone.

Brad BartonHost

2:06

426 kilometers, over 250 miles long.

RomeCityCapital of Italy
94%11 mentions
ConstantinopleCity
83%4 mentions
Roman aqueductEntity
72%1 mention
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioningEntity
61%1 mention
FranceCountryCountry in Europe
50%3 mentions
Pont du GardBridgeBridge in Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France
33%2 mentions
GardonRiverRiver in France
33%1 mention
New YorkCityCity in New York State
17%2 mentions
Western Roman EmpireCountryCountry
6%1 mention

Civil EngineeringEngineering
Society
Water ManagementEngineering > Civil Engineering
Water ResourcesScience > Environmental Science > Hydrology
EngineeringHistory > Ancient Civilizations > Roman Empire
Roman CultureCulture
Public HealthSociety > Infrastructure
InfrastructureSociety
Aqueduct DesignEngineering > Civil Engineering > Water Management
Public BathsCulture > Roman Culture
AqueductsHistory > Ancient Civilizations > Roman Empire > Engineering
Water SupplySociety > Infrastructure > Public Health
Water QualityScience > Environmental Science > Hydrology > Water Resources
Ancient CivilizationsHistory
HydrologyScience > Environmental Science
History
Science
Culture
Environmental ScienceScience
Roman EmpireHistory > Ancient Civilizations
Engineering
Water TreatmentEngineering > Civil Engineering > Water Management > Aqueduct Design
Potable WaterSociety > Infrastructure > Public Health > Water Supply
Water UseCulture > Roman Culture > Public Baths
Daily Life in Ancient RomeCulture > Roman Culture > Public Baths > Water Use

Roman Aqueduct History Overview1:16 – 2:30

Brad BartonHost

1:16

Yes.

Brad BartonHost

1:16

Which is how they got their water from point A to point B. Mm-hmm.

Phil BartonHost

1:20

Sometimes,

Brad BartonHost

1:21

yeah.

Brad BartonHost

1:21

They didn't invent the aqueducts, but as typical with Romans, once they decided to do it, they went big.

Brad BartonHost

1:29

Right.

Phil BartonHost

1:31

As

Brad BartonHost

1:32

far as the city of Rome itself goes, the first aqueduct was built in 312 BC.

Brad BartonHost

1:36

By the time we get to the 3rd

Phil BartonHost

1:38

century

Brad BartonHost

1:39

AD...

Brad BartonHost

1:43

There were 11 major aqueducts.

Brad BartonHost

1:45

Oh,

Phil BartonHost

1:45

cool.

Brad BartonHost

1:46

Feeding the city approximately 1 million cubic meters a day.

Brad BartonHost

1:50

Wow.

Phil BartonHost

1:51

A

Brad BartonHost

1:51

lot of water.

Brad BartonHost

1:52

Yeah.

Brad BartonHost

1:56

The longest one, it wasn't the city of Rome or feeding the city of Rome.

Brad BartonHost

2:00

It was actually feeding Constantinople.

Phil BartonHost

2:02

Oh, okay.

Phil BartonHost

2:04

Long time

Brad BartonHost

2:04

gone.

Brad BartonHost

2:06

426 kilometers, over 250 miles long.

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