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Address: 11721 Southwest Highway Palos Heights, IL 60463, United States

Phone: +1 708-586-2393

E-mail: info@laughingwatersinc.com

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Ancient Fountain Function

Jan 26, 2022

Laughing Waters may be one of the top water feature companies of the century, but what about other centuries? Particularly, Ancient centuries!


Fountains have been used for thousands of years, dating back to Sumerian cultures in 2000 b.c. From the Romans to Ancient Persia, fountains not only provided décor and beauty but function for everyday life. How did these civilizations use and construct these helpful and handsome structures without the control of modern mechanical systems?


Aqueducts!


As early as Ancient Greece, aqueducts were used to move and utilize water to distribute throughout towns and cities. Canals were constructed, which allowed water to flow into areas where it could not be transported easily directly. Gravity, the world’s natural water pump, was vital. Water sources often started from mountain streams and rerouted, traveling to constructed cisterns and display fountains. Much like modern water towers, height allows water to pressurize and flow down into the cistern, then to homes or public fountains. These fountains were the cities’ primary sources for water and cultural waypoints making ancient life easier and helped beautify town centers.

The Romans developed elaborate aqueducts we can still see and visit today. These large bridge-like structures acted as water highways, constructed of stone archways with built-in canals that brought fresh water to its people but have been built to stand the test of time. There were also underground tunnels using pipes similar to what we use today throughout the city, spanning over 250 miles and moving as much as 38 million gallons of water per day. Nine aqueducts supplied water to 39 monumental fountains and nearly 600 public basins within the empire. Even excavations of Pompeii revealed freestanding basins and fountains throughout the city with freshwater carried directly from the mountains.


This ultra-efficient ancient plumbing system helped the famous Roman bathhouses function and provide drinking water to the empire. The Roman Empire is also well known for its acrobatic water movement in its fountains. Using these high source points to generate water pressure, hydraulic head was created , and the empire was able to develop water jets to create water movement in their decorative display fountains, birthing the origin of the dazzling aquatic displays we enjoy today.


Today, Laughing Waters has the creativity and engineering (plus modern plumbing) to construct beautiful fountains and water features inspired by the magnificent structures of the past, paired with high-quality materials and state of the art mechanical systems. Our team strives to create fountains that will last hundreds if not thousands of years.

Interested in adding water to your project? Contact Tim at laughing waters. We bring water to life.

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There are few sites in this world more mesmerizing than a masterfully crafted fountain. Onlookers are immediately taken in by its display of light, color, and perfectly designed aquatic movement. What most viewers of these beautiful structures forget to take into consideration is how complex these water features are to function. Since every fountain is unique, each mechanical setup is custom designed and engineered for each specific project. Most large-scale fountains operate with custom mechanical equipment located either in a mechanical room or in a subterranean vault. Underground or Subterranean vaults save valuable square footage in more expensive real estate locations where a separate above-ground pump room or building may not fit. These subterranean vaults are constructed and whenever possible pre-plumbed with everything needed to operate a fully functioning water feature, including Controls, filtration systems, pumps and a tangled web of intricate plumbing. Subterranean vaults are also perfect for parks and more remote outdoor areas where buildings or structures impede the water feature’s environment. Mechanical rooms for fountains are convenient when the feature is within the building limits. Building Engineers and fountain technicians can easily access all of the fountain equipment for service. These mechanical rooms tend to be common in office buildings or larger campuses and are especially advantageous in colder environments where temperatures can fluctuate.
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The Masters of The Future Are Inspired by The Work of Masters from The Past.
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