Nova Roma Aqueduct Guide
Master Nova Roma's aqueduct system. Learn water management, optimal aqueduct placement, pressure mechanics, and how to supply your entire Roman city.
How do I start my first aqueduct system in Nova Roma?
Begin by locating a river or lake on the map at the highest available elevation. Place a Basic Aqueduct intake structure at the water source, then draw the aqueduct path toward your residential district maintaining a consistent downward gradient. Connect the endpoint to your district pipe network. For your first city, a single Basic Aqueduct serving up to 500 households is sufficient — upgrade to Stone Aqueducts when you hit City rank and your population exceeds the capacity.
What happens if my aqueduct pressure is too low?
Low pressure causes water to stop flowing before reaching distant districts. Buildings farthest from the source will show water shortage icons and citizens will complain about lack of water access, reducing happiness and tax income. To fix this, either raise the elevation of your water source, upgrade to a higher-capacity aqueduct type, add reservoirs along the path to stabilize pressure, or build water towers in the affected districts. The pressure overlay (hotkey: P) shows exactly which areas are affected.
Can aqueducts supply water uphill?
No — water in Nova Roma flows only downhill by gravity unless you build Pump Stations (unlocked at City Rank with Engineering research). Pump stations can push water up to 10 tiles of elevation but consume significant maintenance resources (200 denarii/month per pump). For most cities, it is more cost-effective to find a higher elevation water source than to power an extensive pump network. Reserve pump stations for situations where a higher water source is genuinely unavailable.
Aqueduct Types & Mechanics
Nova Roma offers four tiers of aqueducts, each unlocked at different city ranks. As your settlement grows from a modest town to a sprawling metropolis, your water infrastructure must scale accordingly. The table below compares all aqueduct types by capacity, pressure, range, and cost.
| Aqueduct | Tier | Capacity | Pressure | Range | Material | Cost | Upkeep | Unlocks At |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Aqueduct | Tier 1 | 500 households | Low | 15 tiles | Stone | 2,500 denarii | 75 denarii/month | Town Rank |
| Stone Aqueduct | Tier 2 | 1,200 households | Medium | 25 tiles | Cut Stone | 6,000 denarii | 180 denarii/month | City Rank |
| Elevated Aqueduct | Tier 3 | 3,000 households | High | 35 tiles | Marble & Lead | 15,000 denarii | 450 denarii/month | Large City Rank |
| Imperial Aqueduct | Tier 4 | 8,000 households | Maximum | 50 tiles | Imperial Marble | 40,000 denarii | 1,200 denarii/month | Metropolis Rank |
Basic Aqueduct
Tier 1The foundational water supply structure. Best for early-game towns with small populations. Build these as your first water infrastructure before upgrading to larger systems.
Stone Aqueduct
Tier 2Upgraded aqueduct with higher capacity and extended range. Essential when your settlement reaches City rank. The medium pressure tier enables fountain and bathhouse connections.
Elevated Aqueduct
Tier 3Premium aqueduct with maximum capacity and range. High pressure tier supports all water-dependent buildings including public baths, fountains, and industrial water mills. Requires careful elevation planning.
Imperial Aqueduct
Tier 4The pinnacle of Roman water engineering. Supports entire metropolitan districts. Maximum pressure enables water towers and district-wide distribution networks. Costs are staggering but essential for endgame cities.
Water Pressure Tier System
Water pressure determines which buildings your aqueduct network can supply and how far water can travel. Each pressure tier supports progressively more demanding structures. Understanding pressure mechanics is the key to efficient city planning — building an Elevated Aqueduct for a small farming village wastes resources, while trying to supply baths and fountains with a Basic Aqueduct causes chronic water shortages.
| Pressure Tier | Flow Rate | Buildings Supported | Elevation Limit | Max Distance | Maintenance | Best Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Pressure | 50 units/hour | Basic housing, small farms, wells | +5 tiles above source | 15 tiles | Low | Early Game |
| Medium Pressure | 150 units/hour | Artisan housing, baths, markets, bakeries | +12 tiles above source | 25 tiles | Medium | Mid Game |
| High Pressure | 400 units/hour | Bourgeoisie housing, public baths, fountains, wineries | +20 tiles above source | 35 tiles | High | Late Game |
| Maximum Pressure | 1,200 units/hour | All buildings, water towers, industrial mills, cathedrals | +30 tiles above source | 50 tiles | Very High | Endgame |
Aqueduct Placement Rules
Proper aqueduct placement separates thriving cities from water-starved failures. These five fundamental rules govern how water flows through your city and determine whether your infrastructure can reliably support your growing population.
Elevation Source Priority
Always build aqueduct intake structures at the highest available elevation. Water flows downhill — starting high maximizes your effective range and pressure. Use the terrain elevation overlay (hotkey: E) to identify optimal source locations before placing any aqueduct.
Gradient Consistency
Maintain a consistent downward gradient of at least 2 tiles per 10 tiles of horizontal distance. If the gradient reverses or becomes flat, water pressure drops dramatically and may stop flowing entirely. Use surveyor tools (unlocked at Town Rank) to check gradient before construction.
Bridge Rules
Aqueduct bridges can span up to 8 tiles across rivers or valleys. Build support pillars every 8 tiles to maintain structural integrity. Longer spans require the Arch Bridge technology (unlocked at City Rank) which extends the maximum span to 16 tiles.
Reservoir Placement
Place reservoirs every 20-30 tiles along the aqueduct path. Reservoirs act as pressure stabilizers — they prevent pressure loss over long distances and provide emergency water storage during droughts. Each reservoir stores up to 2,000 water units.
District Connection Points
Create dedicated connection points where aqueducts branch into district pipes. Each connection point can serve up to 200 households in a 10-tile radius. For dense urban areas, place connection points every 8-10 tiles to prevent water shortages at the edges of your city.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Even experienced city planners run into water management issues. These are the most common mistakes players make with aqueducts, the consequences they cause, and proven solutions to fix them before your citizens revolt.
| Mistake | Consequence | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Terrain Builds | Zero water pressure — aqueducts fail to deliver water | Always verify elevation gradient before building. Use elevated aqueducts with pumps on flat terrain, or relocate your water source to higher ground. |
| Overextending Beyond Range | Edge districts receive no water supply | Check the aqueduct range overlay before placing residential zones. Build additional aqueducts or water towers to extend coverage to distant districts. |
| Skipping Reservoirs | Pressure drops during peak usage, causing service disruptions | Place reservoirs at regular intervals along the aqueduct. For aqueducts longer than 20 tiles, at least one reservoir is mandatory for stable water delivery. |
| Ignoring Maintenance Upkeep | Aqueduct degradation reduces capacity over time, leading to water shortages | Budget for maintenance from the start. Assign dedicated maintenance crews at the Town Hall engineering office. Neglected aqueducts lose up to 15% capacity per season. |
| Single Aqueduct for Entire City | Single point of failure — one aqueduct break floods or starves the entire city | Build redundant aqueduct networks for cities above 5,000 population. At least two independent sources ensure uninterrupted water supply if one system fails. |
City Planning With Aqueducts
Water infrastructure should be the very first consideration when planning a new city. Before placing a single residential zone, identify your water sources and map out primary aqueduct routes. The most successful Nova Roma cities follow a water-first design philosophy — aqueducts form the backbone of the city, with districts organized around water access points rather than the other way around.
For optimal city planning, place your Town Hall and civic buildings closest to the main aqueduct terminal. Residential districts should radiate outward from water connection points, with the densest housing placed within 10 tiles of a connection. Industrial and agricultural zones can tolerate being farther from water sources, but production buildings like bakeries and wineries still require stable water pressure to operate at full efficiency.
As your city grows beyond 5,000 population, transition to a multi-aqueduct network. Build a second independent aqueduct drawing from a different water source to provide redundancy. Connect the two networks with crossover valves so that if one aqueduct requires maintenance, the other can temporarily supply the entire city. This redundancy is not optional at the Metropolis level — single-aqueduct cities above 10,000 population inevitably suffer catastrophic water failures.
Last updated: July 2, 2026