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An Ancient System Could Stop Modern-Day Peru Running Out of Water
DAVID NIELD 26 JUN 2019
An ancient water conservation technique once used in Peru could be making a comeback in the modern era, as the country struggles with extreme dry seasons amidst a population rise.
Researchers estimate the technique - used by indigenous peoples of the region - is at least 1,400 years old. It involves diverting water from streams to mountain slopes when the rain is plentiful, resulting in natural springs that keep water stored over a longer period of time after the rainy season has stopped.
In the pre-Inca age, this was done through the construction of canals and ponds to divert some water away from its natural flow. It would then take months to resurface downstream, right when it was needed.
Ancient canals in the Andean mountains. (Sam Grainger, Imperial College London)
"The people of Lima live with one of the world's least stable water situations," says environmental engineer Wouter Buytaert, from Imperial College London in the UK. "There's too much water in the wet seasons, and too little in the dry ones."
More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/how-an-ancient-system-lost-to-time-could-help-water-conservation-in-peru
