Cisterns of Ain el Hammam

The Cisterns of Ain el Hammam in Dougga were constructed under the reign of Commodius (AD 180-192) with the purpose to provide the city with water. Consisting of 5 basins measuring 33m in length and 5m in height, they lie immediately west of the Arch of Alexander Severus. To date, they still preserve their perfect condition. An aqueduct was used to carry water from a spring located 200 meters away to the cisterns. Some parts of this underground aqueduct can be seen amid the olive trees spread to the west of the cisterns. Experts say that the skillfulness by which the construction was set made it easy for it to check any leakage problem.