Heritage-based water harvesting solutions

Abstract

Old city centers are often protected against the introduction of new architectural elements and require site-specific and respectful solutions for sustainable water management. Revitalizing part of ancient water systems matches more than one sustainable development goal. Ancient water management tools may be reinterpreted and innovated to preserve environmental resources, cultural heritage, and tradition, leading to new valuable heritage-based solutions (HBSs). The realization of rain water harvesting and reuse (RWHR) systems incorporating ancient elements of old water distribution systems, is proposed as an HBS for sustainable water management in old city centers. The case of Venice ancient cisterns (veras) is examined and discussed.