Old Piedras River Aqueduct, Colonial waterworks in San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Old Piedras River Aqueduct is a colonial-era water system with six sedimentation tanks, a valve room, and an engine room spread across a historic riverside property. The preserved structures reveal the technical components that once moved and filtered water into the city.
Engineer Juan Manuel Lomber designed the aqueduct in 1847, and it operated with modifications through the Spanish-American War period around 1898. After that point, the structure remained as the city moved toward newer water distribution methods.
The aqueduct represents water management solutions that enabled the city to grow and flourish during the colonial era. Walking through the site gives you a sense of how communities once depended on such infrastructure to thrive.
The site sits next to the University of Puerto Rico Botanical Garden, making it easy to combine a visit with nearby attractions along Ponce de León Avenue. The grounds are accessible and open for walking, allowing you to explore the various structures and riverside setting at your own pace.
This is the only remaining aqueduct from the Spanish colonial period still standing in any US territory, earning National Treasure status in 2014. The designation highlights how rare it is to find Spanish-era water infrastructure of this quality preserved anywhere in American lands.
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