Jonathan Bridge

As all good Monty Python fans know, water technologies feature large in the legacy of benefits left by Roman civilisation. But while aqueducts, sewers and baths retain an obvious presence in the landscape and in the archaeological record, the Romans’ largest and most important water achievement may have been “virtual”.

Engineers at Fukushima nuclear power plant have been trying to create a $317M ice wall to isolate contaminated water from mixing with groundwater.

As all good Monty Python fans know, water technologies feature large in the legacy of benefits left by Roman civilisation. But while aqueducts, sewers and baths retain an obvious presence in the landscape and in the archaeological record, the Romans’ largest and most important water achievement may have been “virtual”.

Engineers at Fukushima nuclear power plant have been trying to create a $317M ice wall to isolate contaminated water from mixing with groundwater.