NCWR

About NCWR

Water works through time

In a nutshell

In this activity we explore the water monuments of our town, city or region.

Our objectives

In this activity you will:

  • Study a water monument in your town/city/region (its structure, decoration and any history behind it).
  • Explore the local cultural heritage (monuments) related to water
  • Be stimulated to discover the rich diversity of water monuments in the Mediterranean region

Things to use

Notebook and pens

Water-readings

People around the Mediterranean appreciated the value of water since the ancient times and constructed remarkable structures for the collection, storage and distribution of water.

The decorative elements of the water works -fountains, taps, reservoirs-  are of great importance; very often, have a symbolic “hidden” meaning, conveying the key-message “water is precious”.

In the past, the fountain, , or the public tap of a town were at the heart of its social life and its trading activities.

Stop and wonder

The HYDRIA project

Over millennia, the rich know-how for the management of water resources in the Mediterranean region was “transferred” between civilizations, from one to another, evolving with new technologies and techniques. The remnants of this water heritage, e.g. cisterns, wells, canals, dams, aqueducts, are considered as monuments of invaluable importance today.

This heritage is a continuous source of inspiration for technology and art. In this line, the HYDRIA Project uses water as a “vehicle” to unfold this diverse, yet common, tangible and related to water in the Mediterranean. The HYDRIA webpage presents 36 cases of water works explaining the function,  local history, culture, etc.  as well as the local landscape. Explore them all at: www.hydriaproject.info

 

Play & learn

Water monuments

Observe the photos of old water works (or their remnants) from Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta. Can you figure out what is it : an aqueduct, a tap, a fountain, a well or a cistern? Can you guess the country of origin?











Group activity

Investigating a water monument

  1. Visit a water monument i.e. a fountain, an aqueduct, etc. Take photos of it with different angles.
  2. What is its location? Observe the surroundings.
  3. Where does the water come from? Where does it go?
  4. Who was or is still using the water?
  5. What are the decorative details, if any?  Do they have any symbolism ? Ask your history teacher.
  6. When was it built? By whom? Are there any inscriptions on it?
  7. Find old pictures of the monument. Has it changed? How? Has it been restored?

Don’t forget to fill in the worksheet!

Water shares


Water meter

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Way forward

Dive in …

Water in the city if you want to find out where from water is coming to your city.

The water cycle! if you want to learn more about the water cycle .

Go back to the homepage!

Water works through time

Water in the city

The water basins

Desalination

Greywater recycling in practice

Do you know about grey water?

Wastewater treatment

Rainwater Harvesting Systems in practice

Rainwater harvesting

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle

Acting for Climate

Climate change: Why should I care?

Water resources

The water cycle

Where do I begin?

Water works through time

Let's discover the story behind the old fountains, cisterns and aqueducts of our town!

Continue!

Water in the city

What is the "urban water cycle"? Which are the important aspects of water management within a city environment?

Continue!

The water basins

In this activity we learn what a water drainage basin is and why it is important for the experts to study it.

Continue!

Desalination

Let's find out how sea and brackish water can become a freshwater resource!

Continue!

Greywater recycling in practice

How a greywater system is installed? Let's find out!

Continue!

Do you know about grey water?

Let's find out what "greywater” is and how we can use it!

Continue!

Wastewater treatment

In this activity we learn about how wastewater is treated and what we can do with the treated water.

Continue!

Rainwater Harvesting Systems in practice

What are the various types of rainwater harvesting systems? Let's find out more about them!

Continue!

Rainwater harvesting

Can we collect rainwater? And how do we use it? Let's find out!

Continue!

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle

What is our water footprint and how can we reduce it?

Continue!

Acting for Climate

What are the main sectors contributing to climate change? What are countries doing to address it? What can we do for climate collectively at school and at community level?

Continue!

Climate change: Why should I care?

We discuss the greenhouse effect and the greenhouse gases, how climate change is linked to our lifestyles and ways we can cope with it on a personal level.

Continue!

Water resources

Lt's discover the water resources of our region.

Continue!

The water cycle

Let's travel within the water cycle!

Continue!

Where do I begin?

Let's see why it is important to know about water in our region.

Continue!