Ancient Incan technology being used to harvest water to combat Peru's crisis
Techniques used by servants of the Inca empire 500 years ago could be vital in accessing an increasingly scarce resource
(Practical Action)
Samuel Webb
In Peru
5 hours ago
Gregorio Rios, 74, oversaw the renovation of the vast network of canals above the town of San Pedro de Casta
Techniques used by servants of the Inca empire to build canals 500 years ago are being resurrected in Peru to funnel much-needed water to remote mountain communities and the city of Lima below.
Gregorio Rios, 74, oversaw the renovation of the vast network of canals above San Pedro de Casta, a town 3,000 metres above sea level in the South American country’s Huarochiri district.
The canals were built centuries ago by the Yapani ethnic group, using clay and rocks ingeniously compressed over a long period of time. The local municipality previously used concrete to build new modern canals, but it stifled plant growth, affecting the local ecosystem, and crumbled after just 10 years.
The Yapani canals, by contrast, are more than 500 years old. New canals built with the ancient techniques could last for more than 100 years if built correctly. They are also permeable, so the water is filtered and plant roots help anchor the structure in place.
More:
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/inca-peru-climate-crisis-canals-water-indigenous-lima-climate-change-b2094073.html
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