Brooks Aqueduct, National historic aqueduct in County of Newell, Canada

The Brooks Aqueduct is a concrete water channel that spans across a shallow valley and sits elevated above the prairie on numerous support columns. The structure connects irrigation systems and carries water to agricultural areas throughout the region.

The structure was built between 1912 and 1914 by the Canadian Pacific Railway to bring irrigation water to Alberta's dry region. The project marked a turning point in developing the area and made farming possible in places where it had been difficult before.

The aqueduct's name comes from the city of Brooks, and the structure was transferred in 1935 to the Eastern Irrigation District, a farmer-owned entity formed under the Irrigation Districts Act. Its water supported 113,000 hectares of farmland, prompting a new wave of settlement. The nearby interpretive centre presents the site to visitors.

The aqueduct is located near Brooks and is easy to reach by car; walking paths surround the structure for viewing and photography. The site is flat and open, so it is wise to prepare for wind on exposed prairie days.

The flume follows a hydrostatic catenary curve, and copper expansion joints were set every 24 metres, or every fourth bent. To cross the CPR main line, a siphon working on the Venturi principle was buried 12 metres beneath the tracks. Leaks from those joints damaged the concrete supports from the start.