Wastewater and Toilets

The Cloaca Maximus provided the blueprints for sewers across the Empire. It's origins appearing around 600 BC, prior to the Roman Republic under the kingship of Tarquin the Elder. It was likely started as an early open air ditch system for storm water drainage from the Etruscans. In the early Imperial era, it would be renovated by Agrippa under Augustus as general improvements to Rome's infrastructure. From aqueducts, the best water would be diverted for consumption, with the lesser quality water going to baths with the least quality going to latrines. Drainage into the Cloaca was engineered to be downstream to prevent waste being dumped into clean water. There is now academic debate on if the use of the cloaca aided in health as human parasites such as whipworm was so widespread in Roman remains.

The exit of the Cloaca Maximum flowed all wastewater into the Tiber River. With no understanding of germ theory, and primary purpose to prevent flooding, the untreated waste went back into the river. The Tiber was viewed as a trash dump in Roman society, with serving as the lowest place a Roman could be "buried".

An artist's rendition of typical Roman drainage system on a street. The two drainage ditches for storm water connected with indoor plumbing leading to the Cloaca. This meant that flooding was preventing in most cases, but also that raw sewage was mixed with storm water when entering waterways.

The ruins of a public latrine not far from Rome. There was no privacy in the latrines, rats that would run under the seats, and the possibility of methane gas explosions were real hazards of the public latrines. Public servants did serve as attendants in the latrines making modest sums. A running flow of clean water and sponges on sticks were the primary cleaning standards.

A city map of the ruined city of Pompeii. This map shows the locations of private toilets, along with public toilets in the city (the latter being marked with circles). Modern historians estimates that while public latrines were available, most waited to get home if they had a toilet.
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