Aqueduct Reclaims Land for 300,000 in Italy

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 43, 13 November 1937, Page 14

Aqueduct Reclaims Land for 300,000 in Italy

EOME — Along an aqueduct now completed in Lucania, southern Italy, ovor 1,500,000 gallons of water flow eacli day, to aid in the redemption of what was previously a zone oi* waste land. This is the new Agri Aqueduct, considered one of ihe Italian Government 's most important achievements in South Italy. TJntil recent times, Lucania was one of Italy 's "abandoned regions;" and though inundated with swamps, it was at the same time tormented( by thirst, owing to the absolute lack Of drinking water. On account of the nature of the land, roeky in part, friable, owing to the destruction of woods and forests, inundated by rivers and torrents, causing untold damage, tecbnicians were confronted with enormous difficulties iu the buildirig of aqueducts, and past governments never had the energy to solve the problem. Now, however, the wastes have been drained. The waters which rise at 1400 metres (4600 feet) above sea level, have been tapped at their source and piped over the whole region — a distance of about 950 kilometres (590 miles). The work has taken five years to complete, and more than 200,000 inhabitants have been supplied with water in 27 communes. In 24 hours the aqueduct carries a volume of water equal to 7,646,000 litres. Pumps raise the water into galleries, through which it is carried to a reservoir with a' capacity of 14,000 cubic metres. From this reservoir runs the rnain conduit which, with a network of secondary piping, carries tlio water to the various districts. This work has entailed tho building of nunierous reservoirs, bridges ia ceinent, underground passages and the laying of a network of piping through extremely broken country scarred by landslides and erosion.