Sanitation and spill water

Some of you might have notice that Frontinus said "the water may flow without interruption, day and night". That kind of behaviour seems strange today and led to a huge loss of water during the nights. To the Romans however, overflowing fountains were appreciated as the water could flush away some waste from the streets.



"I desire that no one shall draw 'lapsed' water except those who have permission to do so by grants from me or preceding sovereigns; for there must necessarily be some overflow from the reservoirs, this being proper not only for the health of our City, but also for use in the flushing of the sewers."

Frontinus - The Aqueducts of Rome II.111
Translated by Charles E. Bennett