scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

What were the earliest urban storm water management techniques used by ancient civilizations? 


Best insight from top research papers

Ancient civilizations like the Minoans in Crete, Romans, and Chinese developed sophisticated urban storm water management techniques. The Minoans in Crete during the Early Bronze Ages (around 3,200 BC) had advanced drainage and sewerage systems in their settlements . Similarly, the Romans and Chinese utilized aqueducts, water impounds, and runoff management techniques for urban water management . Furthermore, the Romans and Moorish societies had sustainable water management practices that influenced cities like Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro, showcasing the historical influence of ancient societies on sustainable water management . These ancient civilizations laid the foundation for efficient storm water management, with practices like porous concrete emerging as a modern alternative for effective storm water control and groundwater recharge .

Answers from top 5 papers

More filters
Papers (5)Insight
Not addressed in the paper.
Ancient civilizations, like the Minoans in Greece around 3,200 BC, utilized advanced stormwater management techniques, including drainage and sewerage systems in their urban areas.
Ancient civilizations like China and Greece utilized urban storm water management techniques such as canals, urban rivers, and drainage facilities to combat flooding and utilize river water for washing and irrigation.
Ancient civilizations like Mohenjo-Daro, Mesopotamian, Roman, and Chinese utilized advanced drainage systems for stormwater management, serving as atavistic solutions for present urban water supply and drainage issues.
Ancient civilizations utilized drainage, rainwater intake, and wastewater transport techniques for sustainable water management, influencing later societies like Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro with irrigation and hydraulic engineering practices.

Related Questions

What urban stormwater management techniques were used during the early 20th century?5 answersDuring the early 20th century, urban stormwater management techniques primarily involved the rapid transfer of water to sewage systems or ditches, leading to the transportation of pollutants and large volumes of water to rivers and streams. Stormwater management paradigms at that time focused on abating downstream flooding and were mainly engineered solutions. However, as urban stormwater management evolved over the decades, new approaches emerged to address issues like floods and water pollution in urban areas. These new techniques included the use of storm sewers, detention basins, canals, and decentralized retention and infiltration systems, which aimed to control peak flows, improve water quality, and reduce runoff volume through distributed management practices.
Which kinds of urban water management are there?4 answersVarious kinds of urban water management approaches exist to address the challenges posed by factors like climate change, population growth, and water scarcity. These include Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM), which integrates non-conventional water sources like stormwater and recycled wastewater to enhance water security and sustainability. Additionally, frameworks such as sustainable development, ecological modernization, socio-technical framings, urban political ecology, and radical ecology offer diverse perspectives on urban water sustainability, focusing on aspects like meeting the needs of the urban poor, technological innovation, power dynamics in water management, and fundamental societal reorganization to address ecological crises. Urban water governance has also evolved from centralized statutory agencies to more fragmented systems involving public and private entities, reflecting changes in water law and governance structures to adapt to global challenges like climate change and urbanization.
How does urban sprawl affect stormwater runoff?4 answersUrban sprawl, characterized by the expansion of urban areas and the conversion of natural land resources into impervious surfaces, has a significant impact on stormwater runoff. The increase in impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and parking lots reduces the ability of the land to absorb and drain stormwater during rainfall events. As a result, urbanization leads to higher volumes and peak flow rates of stormwater runoff, as well as a degradation in runoff quality due to increased concentrations of pollutants. The rapid pace of urbanization has also overwhelmed existing underground drainage systems, which are unable to handle the current flow conditions. This has resulted in destructive stormwater impacts in urban areas, including economic losses, fatalities, and damaged properties. To mitigate these effects, various runoff reduction methods have been implemented, with average runoff reduction percentages ranging from 43% to 61% under different rain events. Incorporating sustainable stormwater management practices, such as promoting infiltration and storage of runoff, can help reduce the vulnerability to urban floods.
What are the sustainable urban stormwater drainage practices?5 answersSustainable urban stormwater drainage practices include Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), Low Impact Development (LID), Best Management Practices (BMP), Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), and the Sponge City Programme (SCP). These practices aim to manage stormwater more efficiently in urban areas by mitigating flood risk, reducing pollution of water bodies, and restoring the natural water balance. SUDS focus on distributed stormwater management and control, promoting infiltration, evapotranspiration, rainwater harvesting, and reuse. LID is a green infrastructure approach that eases surface runoff through practices such as bioretention cells, bioswales, and permeable pavement. WSUD and SCP also emphasize sustainable stormwater management through integrated approaches considering climate change, land use patterns, reuse, treatment, ecology, and societal aspects. These practices can help minimize flooding, enhance groundwater recharge, and reduce the impact of urbanization on hydrologic systems.
What are the benefits of controlled flooding in urban areas?5 answersControlled flooding in urban areas has several benefits. Firstly, it helps in reducing the impact of excess runoff during short-duration rainfall events, thereby mitigating urban pluvial flooding. Secondly, it can effectively reduce runoff for small rainfalls, which helps in managing urban flooding. Additionally, controlled flooding can help in retaining, detaining, infiltrating, or reusing rainwater on-site, which is important for sustainable water management in cities. Moreover, it can provide a scientific basis and technical support for urban flood control and drainage planning, allowing city management committees to assess the potential risk of waterlogging and plan accordingly. Lastly, controlled flooding can help in preventing surface floodwater and automatically controlling urban floods in real-time, making cities more resilient to flooding.
How can urban rainwater management contribute to sustainable development?5 answersUrban rainwater management can contribute to sustainable development by addressing the challenges of water scarcity, pollution, and climate change in urban areas. Implementing green infrastructures such as bioretention systems with active control technology can enhance the treatment capacity of rainwater, mitigating runoff and capturing pollutants. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems can also play a significant role in meeting the growing water demand by reusing and recycling rainwater, thereby conserving water resources. Additionally, integrated storage solutions and the utilization of water wastage through runoff can help enhance groundwater levels and support resilient development in the face of climate change. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), Low Impact Development (LID), and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) are important aspects of urban stormwater management that can contribute to sustainable and resilient urban water management. Furthermore, information modeling of buildings and cities can provide a basis for simulations and analyses that aid decision-making and prevent problems in the management of rainwater.

See what other people are reading

What are the current best practices in water scarcity mapping both locally and internationally?
4 answers
Current best practices in water scarcity mapping involve a combination of advanced hydrological modeling, storytelling, and the integration of various data sources. Internationally, initiatives like the National Geographic World Water Map project utilize state-of-the-art modeling to identify hotspots of water scarcity and analyze the drivers behind them. Locally, methods like the Multiple Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach are employed to rank water scarcity severity based on factors like water availability, population demand, and storage capacity. Additionally, efforts are made to quantify potentially available water (PAW) using GRACE data and reanalysis precipitation, providing a robust measure of available water despite challenges in defining it accurately, especially in data-scarce regions. These practices aim to provide comprehensive insights into water scarcity issues at both global and local scales.
What are the current trends in urban sustainability practices aimed at mitigating water scarcity in cities worldwide?
5 answers
Current trends in urban sustainability practices to address water scarcity globally include integrating water management into city planning, enhancing groundwater levels and utilizing runoff water, focusing on transformative learning in urban sustainability efforts, adapting built infrastructure and natural systems to combat climate change impacts, and emphasizing effective water management through modern technologies and continuous improvement. Cities are repurposing urban spaces for sustainable development, promoting equitable distribution of amenities, and implementing participatory planning to enhance water sustainability. The key elements for future cities to avoid water collapse involve strategic management, trust-building, awareness, and long-term planning to ensure water resource sustainability amidst challenges like pollution, climate change, and population growth.
Why should river quality be studied, consecuences?
5 answers
Studying river quality is crucial due to its direct impact on human health, aquatic life, and ecosystem sustainability. Anthropogenic activities like urbanization, agriculture, and industrial discharges significantly degrade water quality, affecting parameters such as dissolved oxygen, nutrient levels, and pollutant concentrations. This deterioration can lead to reduced fish abundance, altered pH levels, and increased concentrations of harmful substances like iron, nitrate, and heavy metals, posing risks to both aquatic organisms and human consumers. Monitoring and assessing river quality are essential to identify pollution sources, evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies, and implement necessary measures to improve water quality for sustainable use and ecosystem preservation.
How pervious concrete is designed?
5 answers
Pervious concrete is designed through various methods and considerations outlined in the research papers. The design process involves analyzing different factors such as water-cement (W/C) ratios, vibration times, aggregate strength, and admixture utilization. Studies emphasize achieving optimized pervious concrete meeting international standards by selecting specific W/C ratios and vibration times for desired physical and mechanical properties. Additionally, the use of recycled aggregates in pervious concrete production is highlighted for its environmental benefits and ability to meet technical road requirements while promoting resilient city construction. Furthermore, research focuses on developing rational procedures for designing pervious concrete pavement (PCP) surface courses, comparing structural behaviors with traditional concrete pavements, and proposing simple frameworks for structural analysis and design of PCP systems. The incorporation of admixtures like super plasticizers is also explored to enhance strength and reduce water content in pervious concrete, ensuring cost-effectiveness. Life cycle assessments (LCA) and multi-criteria assessments are conducted to integrate hydraulic and structural designs, environmental impacts, engineering performances, and economic costs in the design of pervious concrete pavement systems.
What is the reason for the emergence of the membrane separation process in water treatment compared to common processes?
5 answers
The emergence of membrane separation processes in water treatment compared to common processes is primarily driven by the advantages they offer. Membrane processes provide selectivity, high-performance efficiency, eco-friendliness, and ease of handling, making them more versatile for various applications. These processes are economically friendly, sustainable, and require no chemical usage, reducing capital costs and energy requirements. Additionally, the incorporation of nanometer-sized adsorbents on polymeric membranes enhances their applicability in removing contaminants from wastewater, contributing to the efficiency of water treatment. The evolution of membrane technology has revolutionized water treatment, enabling higher water quality and lower costs, with membrane-based processes like reverse osmosis becoming dominant in desalination. These advancements highlight the significant shift towards membrane separation processes for efficient and sustainable water treatment solutions.
What is Crystalline admixture?
5 answers
Crystalline admixtures are additives used in concrete to enhance durability and self-healing properties. These admixtures react with water to form crystals that fill pores and micro-fractures, making concrete self-sealing. They increase the density of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (CSH) and resist water penetration, aiding in crack repair and enhancing concrete durability. Crystalline admixtures have been shown to reduce water permeability, improve chemical resistance, and enhance the mechanical properties of concrete. They play a crucial role in preventing water percolation through concrete structures and stimulating autogenous healing of cracks. Overall, the use of crystalline admixtures is a promising approach to increase the longevity and serviceability of concrete in various environmental conditions.
What do the trends in the variability of the chemical composition of river water indicate?
4 answers
The trends in the variability of the chemical composition of river water indicate significant changes influenced by various factors. Studies in different regions show increasing trends in principal ions like sulfates, carbonates, calcium, and magnesium ions, possibly due to climate change, while nutrients and organic substances exhibit moderate decreasing trends. In high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems, long-term changes in major ionic chemistry, particularly calcium and sulphate, have been observed, with increasing calcium content and decreasing sulphate levels over the past few decades. Additionally, in river profiles in eastern Slovakia, decreasing trends in biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, ammonium, and nitrite nitrogen content were noted, attributed to reduced agricultural activity, while water temperature showed an increasing trend possibly linked to global temperature rise. These trends collectively highlight the impact of anthropogenic and climatic factors on river water quality.
What is pollution in water?
5 answers
Water pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies by various pollutants, posing significant environmental and health risks. Sources of pollution include natural contaminants, such as those from human and animal wastes, industrial pollutants, and agricultural runoff. Pollutants can be physical, chemical, or biological in nature, with categories like organic matter, acid rain, nutrients, toxic micropollutants, nanomaterials, and micro/nano plastics contributing to water pollution. The impact of pollution extends to aquatic life, river ecosystems, and human health, affecting clean water availability for domestic, industrial, and agricultural purposes. Industrialization and urbanization exacerbate water pollution, necessitating strict regulations, public awareness, and advanced treatment technologies like ozonation and chlorination for remediation. Overall, water pollution is a pressing global issue that requires comprehensive monitoring, prevention, and remediation efforts to safeguard water resources and ecosystems.
What is the seasonal water availability of the Kali River in Uttarakhand?
5 answers
Seasonal water availability of the Kali River in Uttarakhand varies based on physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contamination. The river's water quality is influenced by factors like temperature, transparency, conductivity, pH, and heavy metal concentrations such as Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cr. Additionally, the river's low flows, represented by Q7,10 and Q95, play a crucial role in determining water availability throughout the year. Annual estimates show that Q95 is generally higher than Q7,10, indicating potential for optimized water use based on seasonality. Modeling using the QUAL2E model downstream of Muzzafarnagar city provides insights into dissolved oxygen, BOD, nitrogen, and phosphate profiles during the dry season, further highlighting the river's water quality dynamics.
How monovalent and divalent ions cause acidic pH in reservoire water.?
5 answers
Monovalent and divalent ions can contribute to acidic pH in reservoir water through various mechanisms. Divalent ions like Ca2+ can lead to rock dissolution, as observed in low salinity waterflooding studies, potentially increasing effluent pH and causing acidic conditions. On the other hand, the presence of SO42- ions in sediment pore water, possibly originating from acid mine drainage, can elevate acidity levels in reservoirs. Additionally, the translocation of Al and Fe downstream in drainage watersheds due to acid elution and precipitation can accumulate acid neutralizing capacity in streambeds, affecting pH levels in reservoir water. These combined effects of divalent and monovalent ions from various sources can collectively contribute to the acidic pH observed in reservoir water.
How do anthropogenic activities affect the biodiversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton>?
5 answers
Anthropogenic activities have a significant impact on the biodiversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton in freshwater ecosystems. Studies show that these activities lead to changes in water quality, affecting the diversity and community structure of phytoplankton. Additionally, anthropic impacts negatively influence zooplankton communities, altering species dominance and ecological variables in lakes, indicating anthropization. The presence of pollutants like total phosphorus, nitrogen, and heavy metals in water bodies due to human activities correlates with shifts in phytoplankton and zooplankton diversity. Furthermore, the growth of cyanobacteria in water bodies due to favorable conditions created by anthropogenic activities poses a threat to the ecosystem's food chains. Overall, anthropogenic pressures play a crucial role in shaping the biodiversity and health of phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in aquatic environments.