ABSTRACT
The availability of potable water in sufficient quantity is closely linked to the history of mankind from its earliest beginnings. With the adoption of an agrarian way of life and the establishment of permanent settlements, the permanent access to clean water became a prerequisite for urbanization and the formation of structured societies. In ancient times Greeks and Romans were already using settling tanks, sieves and filters to improve the quality of water. Yet poor management of waste water presented a major risk of waterborne infections. These illnesses, together with water-related sicknesses like malaria or bilharziosis, were probably one of the main causes of death.
