History & Construction of Aqueducts in the Maltese Islands

Impact of Aqueducts on Malta’s Development

The Maltese Islands have four historical aqueducts: the Wignacourt Aqueduct, a 17th-century structure built by the Knights of St. John to carry water to Valletta; and the 19th-century Gozo Aqueduct, built by the British to supply water to Victoria (Rabat) in Gozo.

The Gozo Aqueduct - more details

The Gozo Aqueduct is an aqueduct on the island of Gozo, Malta. It was built by the British between 1839 and 1843 to transport water from Għar Ilma in the limits of Kerċem to Victoria.[ A reservoir was built within the ditch of the Cittadella to store water which most probably stored water coming from the Cittadella itself.[ An obelisk was built near the reservoirs to commemorate the opening of the aqueduct.

The Wignacourt Aqueduct - more details

The Wignacourt Aqueduct (Maltese: L-Akwedott ta' Wignacourt) is a 17th-century aqueduct in Malta, which was built by the Order of Saint John to carry water from springs in Dingli and Rabat to the newly built capital city Valletta. The aqueduct carried water through underground pipes and over arched viaducts across depressions in the ground.

The Fawwara Aqueduct - more details

19th-century British-period aqueduct bringing spring water from the Siġġiewi / Rabat–Dingli plateau area to supply the southern towns (notably the Three Cities/Cospicua) and neighbouring villages.

The Xemxija Aqueduct - more details

In 1839, the British built an aqueduct allowing the transportation of water. The water travelled from an underground aqueduct in an area in Wardija, known as tal-Ballut, that extends to an above ground aqueduct and then to a reservoir both in Xemxija.