Water transportation involves moving large volumes of water from one place to another. It can be done through aqueducts, container shipping, or towing across large bodies of water. Water transport is used for irrigation, supplying fresh drinking water, and other purposes. Aqueducts can refer to closed pipe systems, open channels, and other methods. Water can also be transported in containers using trucks and ships, but tankers can be difficult to drive due to the free surface effect. Towing is another method, such as using a tugboat to tow an iceberg or fresh water in an airtight bag.
The term “water transportation” refers to the act of moving large volumes of water from one place to another. There are three main categories that most water transportation activities can be divided into: aqueducts, container shipping, and towing across large bodies of water. These various methods can be used to move water from a place where it is abundant to an area where it is needed. Water transport can be used for irrigation of otherwise barren lands, for supplying fresh drinking water to large municipal areas, and for many other purposes.
In modern engineering terms, “aqueduct” can refer to closed pipe systems, open channels, and other similar methods commonly used to transport water. Aqueducts have been used for transport since the 7th century BC, when they typically consisted of large elevated buildings capable of diverting large volumes of water towards population centres. Open canals and elevated aqueducts are still in use, although most municipal water transportation systems use enclosed pipes. These pipes tend to create more friction than open channels, and in many cases pumping stations are used to keep the water moving if the downward slope of the system is not enough.
Water is also commonly transported in containers, using both trucks and ships. Until the late 1800s, liquids such as water were only transported in barrels, although various technological developments led to the creation of container ships. One problem that can affect the transport of water by tankers is known as the free surface effect. This effect describes the likelihood that a large surface area of liquid in a vessel’s hold adversely affects vessel stability, which is typically addressed by creating segmented or partitioned areas within the hold. Tankers can also be difficult to drive for the same reason and often contain a system of baffles as well.
Another method of transporting water is towing. One way to do this is to use a tugboat to tow an iceberg, because ice is made from fresh water. Fresh water can also be towed through liquid salt water if placed in an airtight bag. Fresh water is less dense than salt water, so the bag will tend to float to the surface. Designs for large bags capable of carrying water in this way were first tested in 1990.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
