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Frontinus
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===Aqueducts of Rome=== [[File:Porta Maggiore 030106.JPG|thumb|left|Remains of aqueducts [[Aqua Claudia]] and [[Aqua Anio Novus]], integrated into the [[Aurelian Wall]] as a gate in 271 AD.]] Frontinus's chief work is ''[[De aquaeductu]]'', in two books, an official report to the emperor on the state of the [[aqueducts of Rome]]. It presents a history and description of the water-supply of Rome, including the laws relating to its use and maintenance. He provides the history, sizes and discharge rates of all of the nine [[aqueducts of Rome]] at the time at which he was writing at the turn of the 1st century AD: the [[Aqua Marcia]], [[Aqua Appia]], [[Aqua Alsietina]], [[Aqua Tepula]], [[Anio Vetus]], [[Anio Novus]], [[Aqua Virgo]], [[Aqua Claudia]] and [[Aqua Augusta (Rome)|Aqua Augusta]]. Frontinus describes the quality of water delivered by each, mainly depending on their source, be it river, lake, or spring. ====Fraud and theft==== One of the first jobs he undertook when he was appointed water commissioner was to prepare maps of the system so that he could assess their condition before undertaking their maintenance. He says that many had been neglected and were not working at their full capacity. He was especially concerned by diversion of the supply by unscrupulous farmers and tradesmen, among many others. They would insert pipes into the channel of the aqueducts to tap the supply. He, therefore, made a meticulous survey of the intake and the supply of each line, and then investigated the discrepancies. [[Lead pipe stamp]]s bearing the name of the owner were also used to prevent such [[water theft]]. He was well aware of the seminal work ''[[De architectura]]'' by [[Vitruvius]], which mentions [[Roman aqueduct|aqueduct]] construction and maintenance published in the previous century; Frontinus refers to the possible influence of Vitruvius on the plumbers.<ref>[25:1]</ref> [[File:RomaAcquedottoTraCelioePalatino.JPG|thumb|Remains of Aqua Claudia]] ====Distribution system==== Distribution of the water depended in a complex way on its height entering the city, the quality of the water, and its rate of discharge. Thus, poor-quality water would be sent for irrigation, gardens, or flushing, while only the best would be reserved for drinking water. Intermediate-quality water would be used for the many baths and fountains. However, Frontinus criticized the practice of mixing supplies from different sources, and one of his first decisions was to separate the waters from each system. ====Maintenance==== He was very concerned by leaks in the system, especially those in the underground conduits, which were difficult to locate and mend, a problem still faced by water engineers today. The aqueducts above ground needed care to ensure that the masonry was kept in good condition, especially those running on arched superstructures. It was, he said, essential to keep trees at a distance so that their roots would not damage the structures. He reviewed the existing law governing the state aqueducts, as well as the need for enforcement of those [[statute]]s.
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