Sewage in Venice, how does this work? (2024)

FAQs

Sewage in Venice, how does this work? ›

The sewer system of the lagoon city. Venice's sewer system is rather peculiar, consisting of a network of masonry tunnels known to locals as gatoli. Since the 1500s, these gatoli have been collecting wastewater and rainwater, which then flows into the city's canals and the open lagoon.

The “gatoli” connected toilets and streets' manholes for rainwater finally to the canals. These tunnels were built in clay bricks and stone and ran under the streets of the city till they connected to a waterway. The heavy sediment would lie at the bottom of the tunnel, while the liquid part slowly reached the canal.

Most of Venice's sewage goes directly into the city's canals. Flush a toilet, and someone crossing a bridge or cruising up a side canal by gondola may notice a small swoosh of water emerging from an opening in a brick wall.

There is a modern system that uses septic tanks to treat water before draining into the canals. The International Water Association says there are more than 6,000 septic tanks in Venice, but many people still rely on the old sewage system.

However, Venice is one of the World's most popular tourism hotspots and a lot of money is invested in its tourism industry. This means that the canals and waterways are cleaned on a regular basis, picking up litter and other waste that has found its way into the water.

Long ago the buildings were built by using long wooden piles (about 60' long) driven deep into the ground. These piles go deep down into the soil, reaching past the weak silt and dirt to a portion of the ground that was hard clay which could hold the weight of the buildings placed on the piles above.

It's also very dangerous to swim in the canals because of motorboats and gondolas circulating the canals constantly and at a rapid pace. Not even on the so-called fondamenta (the seashores) are you allowed to swim. It is even more dangerous, since bigger boats regularly stop by.

The sewerage system pumps the sewage to a treatment plant where it is processed and treated to remove any contaminants. Once treated, the resulting effluent is released back out into waterways, where it continues its journey through the water cycle.

There's another sort of damp which you'll encounter in Venice, a sort which occurs all year round, and with increasing severity: rising damp. The Venetian variety is different from its London counterpart.

That is why tap water in Venice is absolutely safe! Yet, only a fraction of the drinking water of Venice comes from the springs of the river Sile. The rest is provided by groundwater wells (300 meter deep), which are also located in the Province of Treviso, a few kilometers away from Venice.

Why are houses in water in Venice? ›

Originally, it was thought that 5th century Venetians were forced to flee from the mainland because of conquerors and invaders. The idea was that building Venice on top of its lagoons provided protections that the original settlers sought after.

An Innovative Foundation: Anchoring the Floating City

The buildings in Venice were built with long wooden piles that were driven deep into the ground. These piles went down through the soft silt and dirt to a layer of hard clay that was strong enough to hold up the buildings above.

This is primarily because of the swampy nature of the ground, which meant that any land-based structures were liable to deteriorate or collapse, with the passage of time. Therefore, Venetians drove thick wooden stakes into the bottom of the lagoon, and built sturdy platforms on top.

You can drink the water in Venice and save yourself the expense and waste of bottled water. Venice's tap water is pumped in from the Italian mainland so you don't have to worry about anything questionable in the water that is floating under the city. That lagoon water is not coming out of the tap.

The maximum depth found in the Venetian Lagoon is 164 feet below sea level. The artificial channels significantly changed the currents in the lagoon of Venice.

Most of Venice's sewage goes directly into the city's canals. Flush a toilet, and someone crossing a bridge or cruising up a side canal by gondola may notice a small swoosh of water emerging from an opening in a brick wall.

That is why tap water in Venice is absolutely safe! Yet, only a fraction of the drinking water of Venice comes from the springs of the river Sile. The rest is provided by groundwater wells (300 meter deep), which are also located in the Province of Treviso, a few kilometers away from Venice.

The first step in canal maintenance is to erect one or more cofferdams. These temporary walls seal off the canal from adjacent waterways such as the Grand Canal or the Venetian Lagoon. Once the cofferdams are in place, the work crew uses pumps to drain the canal.

To use a public toilet in Venice, you must pay around 1,5 euros per visit. You'll find an attendant or sometimes a tourniquet at the restroom entrance. That's why it's good to have change on hand, as you'll pay in cash.