‘A mere gutter!’ The Carioca Aqueduct and water delivery in mid-nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro

Mid-nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro's water infrastructure relied on a dual system: gravity-fed aqueducts supplied fresh water from the Tijuca Forest to urban fountains, while enslaved individuals carried heavy jugs through streets to residences. This study reconstructs the Carioca Aqueduct's route using Thomas Ewbank's 1856 account, georeferenced historical maps, and fieldwork, then analyzes water delivery practices through firsthand traveler accounts. Findings highlight the tension between advanced engineering solutions and labor-intensive human efforts in urban water management during this period.

Metcalf, A. C., Smith, S. M., & Kennedy, S. W. (2020). ‘A mere gutter!’ The Carioca Aqueduct and water delivery in mid-nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro. Urban History, 49(1), 61–87. https://doi.org/10.1017/s096392682000084x