Before electricity was invented how did they get water fountains to work?

Question

For example water fountains use in small villages. How did they get the water pressure to make the water flow out?

Answer 1

They were gravity fed. A lot still are.

Answer 2

Probably all by gravity. I am guessing a reservoir of water was made that was at an elevation above the fountain, then there was a connecting set of pipes that channelled the water from the higher reservoir level to the lower level of the fountain. This elevation drop causes a pressure at the bottom, and therefore your water fountain spits out water.

Answer 3

The Romans used a system of Aqueducts. These open pipes had just a slight downhill tilt which allowed gravity to make the water run. Given a greater tilt, the water could be moved more forcefully, such as through a fountain. So long as the source of the water is higher than the fountain, water will flow through it.

Answer 4

n Rome, through a system of aqueducts. All water flowed to the city by gravity, but because it was arriving from surrounding hills, it could be stored in large cisterns very similar in concept to today's water towers (the main difference is that cisterns are filled from the top).

Water flowed from the cisterns either through pipes to individual houses or to public distribution points. Fountains served both decorative and functional purposes, since people could bring their buckets to the fountain to collect water. The cisterns provided the height needed to generate water pressure for the fountains to spray.

Answer 5

In Rome, through a system of aqueducts. All water flowed to the city by gravity, but because it was arriving from surrounding hills, it could be stored in large cisterns very similar in concept to today's water towers (the main difference is that cisterns are filled from the top).

Water flowed from the cisterns either through pipes to individual houses or to public distribution points. Fountains served both decorative and functional purposes, since people could bring their buckets to the fountain to collect water. The cisterns provided the height needed to generate water pressure for the fountains to spray.

Answer 6

They probably didn't have them as such. But people have had outdoor fountains for millenia. Basically you divert a stream up in the hills and bring it into your city on an aqueduct, then run the water through pipes to a low point and open a tap. No pumps required. The Kohler bubbler fountain dates from about the same time as electricity distribution (1880's)

Answer 7

Water tanks up in the hills so the water flowed down with gravity.

I heard that at Versailles there were hundreds of peasants that pumped the water for all the fountains.

Answer 8

They payed for someone to sit in the box and blow on the water to cool it, and when you press on the button to drink, the man in the box blew it through the pipe.

By the way, I don't think they had water fountains then.

Answer 9

Gravity

Answer 10

Gravity

Answer 11

water towers. the water tanks would be put on to of a tower, so that the water pressure would force the water to the fountain.