Ancient Civilizations' Water Harvesting Techniques

Water harvesting is the process of collecting, storing, and using rainwater for irrigation and other purposes. It is a simple but effective technique that has been used by ancient civilizations for centuries. In the past century, water harvesting techniques have greatly enhanced. However, looking far back into the past, it is clear that even ancient civilizations were surprisingly advanced when it came to the storage and usage of water for farming.

One civilization that had advanced water harvesting techniques was the Persians. They were experts at capturing and storing water using underground channels called qanats. These channels transported water from underground aquifers to the surface, where it could be used for irrigation and other purposes. Many of these qanat systems are still in use today! Despite being 3,000 years old, qanats are still used in some parts of Iran.

Qanat

Another ancient civilization that was great at water harvesting was the Egyptians. They built a network of irrigation canals and reservoirs to collect and store water for farming. They also used a technique called basin irrigation, which involved collecting water in basins and slowly releasing it onto fields. These methods helped the ancient Egyptians grow crops in a dry region.

The Maya civilization in Central America was also skilled at water harvesting. They constructed reservoirs and canals to collect and store water for irrigation. They also built underground cisterns to catch and store rainwater, which helped them maintain a steady water supply during dry seasons.

The Incas in South America were known for their advanced water harvesting systems, including terracing (building stepped platforms on hillsides to collect water) and constructing channels and canals to transport water from mountain streams to their fields.

Ancient civilizations were advanced at water harvesting despite their lack of scientific knowledge and resources that we have today. Their techniques allowed them to thrive in tough environments and serve as a reminder of the importance of managing water resources. By using these civilizations as inspiration, we have and can continue to develop our own systems of irrigation to maximize the efficiency of our water usage. It is vital, especially as the population grows and land continues to get drier, that we find new solutions to farm as efficiently as possible and adapt to the changing conditions.