Entertaining and Informative, Ancient Engineering

Excellent...Unfortunately, in most of today's urban centers, it is not a good idea to drink rain water- air pollution tends to contaminate the catchment surfaces. Outside the urban centers, rain water is generally better (read safer) than most surface and well water sources...

Agreed, having lived in Rural areas most of my life, scavenging water, even in the forest areas, have been great especially when our wells can be 400+ feet. We do filter of course and the taste is great. We always have enough through dry and trying times as well. Old school methods still have their place.

Just ran across this and find the subject fascinating! Many are calling the search for water, and the conservation of water more important than the search for energy, in the next century, with the potential of population, and industrial expansion. Was interested in reading about natural septic leaching systems, over soil, no deeper that 18" in depth, that upon final runout, produced water that was as pure as rain water. Granted, in cities, there is not enough leachfield areas to provide for this type of system, but maybe the sewage treatment plants could be "outsourced" to other less populated areas, and all recouperated Just a thought-- Also remember watching a infrared overview of the Nile Delta South, that showed evidence of the great water flows in Ancient civilizations--Thanks much for posting this subject , and please bring me up to speed on the latest (and oldest)_ technologies! C-MAC