The use of drinking water yesterday and today.

The Nottolini aqueduct and «The via dell’acqua»

In 1822, Maria Luisa di Borbone, Duchess

of Lucca, for hygienical motivations,

approved the construction of an aqueduct

and appointed a local engeneer, Lorenzo

Nottolini, to build it.

Between 1822 and 1832 the engineer Lorenzo Nottolini constructed the aqueduct to bring drinking and luxury water from the springs in Guamo to the city of Lucca. Luxury water was so called because it had different uses from drinking water.

Route of the aqueduct from Guamo to Lucca

The ducts developed for 3.2 km in a structure 12 meters

high sustained by buttresses and by 460 brick arches

which hold, on the top, two water canals

According to Nottolini’s project the waters collected from

about 18 springs of the «Serra Vespaiata» of Rio San

Quirico and Rio della Valle were routed to the Tempietto di

Guamo, a circular building in neoclassical Doric style.

From there the water was cleaned and made clear

by having it flow through rocks and gravel and

by having it go through further holes and

obstacles so that all the residual impurities would

deposit.

Water system from the filters to the arches

Buildings where the waters were checked

Vespaiata Dike: filter made of gravel and coal to make the water drinkable  

Spring

The two water ductsBeginning of the arches:The Temple of Guamo

End of the arches: the Temple of San Concordio on the outskirts of Lucca.

The interred duct by the walls of

Lucca

The inside of the tunnel

The water from Guamo reaches Piazza

Antelminelli by the Cathedral of Lucca

Nottolini built two ducts: one, for spring waters that went to

the public and private fountains of Lucca. The second that

went to fountains destined to other uses.

Piazza Antelminelli

Nottolini’s will was not to waste any

drinking water

P.za della Misericordia

Via dei Fossi

The water from Guamo reaches Piazza Antelminelli

In front of the Cathedral of Lucca

Today many Important

aqueducts for drinking water

draw from the Plain: that of

Paganini and that of Lucca, the

subsidiary ones of Pisa and

Livorno, that of Capannori and

the so called “Pollino” which

serves Pescia and Montecatini

but also numerous other

municipalities of the

Valdinievole and that of the

Cerbaie for the area of

Bientina-Pontedera.

Water and LegalityThe consequences due to the abandoning of the rules and regulation of

superficial water

Water is a human right

The link between water and legality is very strong and very little is known among the public and especially young people. The care of the environment depends directly on the behavior and actions of the individual and the political choices of the community. Citizens are first called to the legality of water use by observing the rules that determine the proper use, protection from pollution and misuses.

Referendum 2011

In June 2011, around 27 millions of Italians voted in a referendum with 95% of the voters agreeing to the proposal they voted to have water as a common good denying the possibility of privatization.

Chiattino-Guamo

La Pollina - Ruota

Thanks to the project “The flow of good water”, financed by

the Municipality of Capannori and the Regional Government

Safeguarded “a common wealth” water

Improved the best spring waters of our territory by

making them accessible to residents and tourists.

Used new technologies to disinfect which do not alter the aspects

of taste and quality of water

we have:

thanks to water, we have established,

new social relationships among citizens

and communities on the territory,

thus continuing with the best cultural

traditions of our people.

Ravano - Castelvecchio di Compito

S. Pierino o S. Pietro – Sant’Andrea di Compito

Architectural solutions environmentally friendly

and able to improve our territory have been used

on the fountains and the water locations,

Capo di Vico - Sant'Andrea di Compito

Polla del cane- Camigliano

Al Marzocco - Matraia

Perfido - San Colombano

The project “The flow

of good water” involves

15 fountains on the

territory of Capannori.

The fountains have been

upgraded and furnished

with an ultraviolet

disinfection system and

the quality of water is

also guaranteed by

periodical controls.

 

To save on waste, leaving less plastic water bottles around

The “flow” winds through 14 fractions and represents an opportunity:

To reflect on water as a precious good and inalienable right,,

To admire the vast richness of history and architecture of

our municipality

Finetti - Gragnano