Evolution of Sanitation and Wastewater Technologies through the Centuries

Andreas N. Angelakis, Joan B. Rose

• Publisher: IWA Publishing
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781780404844
• eBook ISBN: 9781780404851
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Environmental Science
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Most of the technological developments relevant to water supply and wastewater date back to more than to five thousand years ago. These developments were driven by the necessity to make efficient use of natural resources, to make civilizations more resistant to destructive natural elements, and to improve the standards of life, both at public and private level.  

Rapid technological progress in the 20th century created a disregard for past sanitation and  wastewater and stormwater technologies that were considered to be far behind the present ones. A great deal of unresolved problems in the developing world related to the wastewater management principles, such as the decentralization of the processes, the durability of the water projects, the cost effectiveness, and sustainability issues, such as protection from floods and droughts were intensified to an unprecedented degree. New problems have arisen such as the contamination of surface and groundwater. Naturally, intensification of unresolved problems has led to the reconsideration of successful past achievements.  

This retrospective view, based on archaeological, historical, and technical evidence, has shown two things: the similarity of physicochemical and biological principles with the present ones and the advanced level of wastewater engineering and management practices. Evolution of Sanitation and Wastewater Technologies through the Centuries presents and discusses the major achievements in the scientific fields of sanitation and hygienic water use systems throughout the millennia, and compares the water technological developments in several civilizations. It provides valuable insights into ancient wastewater and stormwater management technologies with their apparent characteristics of durability, adaptability to the environment, and sustainability. These technologies are the underpinning of modern achievements in sanitary engineering and wastewater management practices. It is the best proof that "the past is the key for the future". 

Evolution of Sanitation and Wastewater Technologies through the Centuries is a textbook for  undergraduate and graduate courses of Water Resources, Civil Engineering, Hydraulics, Ancient History, Archaeology, Environmental Management and is also a  valuable resource for all researchers in the these fields. 

Authors: Andreas N. Angelakis, Institute of Iraklion, Iraklion, Greece and Joan B. Rose, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• List of reviewers
• List of authors
• Prolegomena: Probing the past and facing the future
• Chapter 1: Sanitation and wastewater technologies in Minoan Era
• Chapter 2: Sanitation and wastewater technologies in Harappa/Indus valley civilization(ca. 2600–1900 BC)
• Chapter 3: Sanitation and water management in ancient South Asia
• Chapter 4: Evolution of sanitation and wastewater technologies in Egypt through centuries
• Chapter 5: Sanitation and wastewater in the Central Andean Region, Peru: An overview from Pre-Columbian and Colonial times to nowadays
• Chapter 6: History of urban wastewater and stormwater sanitation technologies in Hellas
• Chapter 7: Evolution of sanitation and wastewater technologies in Iran through the centuries: Past and present
• Chapter 8: Sanitation and wastewater and stormwater management in ancient Kingdom of Macedonia, Hellas
• Chapter 9: The history of the development of urban sanitation and wastewater technologies in Cyprus
• Chapter 10: The history of sanitation and wastewatermanagement in Portugal
• Chapter 11: From Volubilis to Fez: Water, witnessed a transfer of an International Heritage
• Chapter 12: Sanitation and wastewater technologies in ancient Roman cities
• Chapter 13: The sanitary system in ancient Roman civilization: An insight on Tunisia
• Chapter 14: Revisiting the technical and social aspects of wastewater management in ancient Korea
• Chapter 15: Drainage and sewerage systems at ancient Athens, Hellas
• Chapter 16: Sewerage system of Diocletian’s Palace in Split – Croatia
• Chapter 17: The evolution of sanitation in the rural area of Southwest China: With case of Dai villages of Xishuangbana, Yunnan province
• Chapter 18: Evolution of sanitation services in the city of Rome between urban development and environmental quality
• Chapter 19: History of the sewerage systemin Barcelona, Spain: From its Originsto Garcia Faria Plan
• Chapter 20: A brief history of the sewerage system in Prague and the role of William Heerlein Lindley
• Chapter 21: Waterborne diseases in the Hippocratictreatise Airs, Waters, Places
• Chapter 22: Ancient Greek and Roman authorson health and sanitation
• Chapter 23: Historical development of sanitation from the 19th century to nowadays: Centralized vs decentralized wastewater management systems
• Chapter 24: The history of land application and hydroponic systems for wastewater treatment and reuse
• Chapter 25: Evolution and impacts of water andindustrial wastewater management inLavrion, Hellas
• Chapter 26: The Water Court of Valencia, Spain(Wastewater)
• Chapter 27: An overview and synthesis of the evolution of sanitation, and wastewater technologies through the centuries: past, present, and future