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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] Qanats, ancient water system.

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  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Qanats, ancient water system.
  • Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:37:01 -0500

On 3/1/2012 11:44 PM, Lawrence F. London, Jr. wrote:

Here is a nice video on qanats:
"The Qanats of Iran"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyfj6sZVZEA

In Iran alone there are thousands of kilometers of qanats! Just think of that. There are links from the movie Qanats Of Iran to many dozens of videos on qanats all over the world, including a research project on qanats by an American professor who did field work in Syria and Kurdistan in Iraq. Iran was known in ancient times as the Breadbasket of the Middle East. I find that fascinating. I am sure those farmers' success was inextricably linked to their qanat system.

Key line plowing is a method using an Australian Keyline Plow to deep subsoil and plow the earth. It is used to create a system of thin, deep water infiltration channels across grades (like a mountain switchback road) to direct water downhill to sites where it is needed, i.e. catchment ponds or reservoirs or irrigation canals. This method catches rainfall that otherwise would be washed away unused by allowing it to infiltrate a network of channels that direct it in an orderly way to storage sites.

It would seem that a keyline system and qanats would be a perfect
combination. Upslope water infiltration providing additional water for the origin of the qanat could be improved with development of a keyline system on slopes above the first qanat borehole. It would seem that with modern excavating, trenching and tunneling equipment boreholes could be made that could be connected by tunnels and trenches with reinforced concrete pipe set in each to form a permanent water collection and conduit system. Of course you could just find a water source along a slope, dig a well and pump the water out but there are still plenty of reasons why a traditional qanat is a better system: less evaporation and ground seepage, no energy required to move the water and possibly purer water at the destination.

There is plenty of need for this amazing technology here in the United States as we face increased drought conditions. This could provide irrigation water for small farms growing food for local populations. Bring ancient proven methods to the modern era and use
state of the art equipment to install the qanats.






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