Editing Knossos (section)

===Water management===
The palace had at least three separate water-management systems: one for supply, one for drainage of runoff, and one for drainage of waste water.

[[aqueduct (watercourse)|Aqueducts]] brought fresh water to Kephala hill from [[Spring (hydrosphere)|springs]] at [[Archanes]], about 10&nbsp;km away. Springs there are the source of the [[Amnisos|Kairatos]] river, in the valley in which Kephala is located. The aqueduct branched to the palace and to the town. Water was distributed at the palace by gravity feed through [[terracotta]] pipes to fountains and spigots. The pipes were tapered at one end to make a pressure fit, with rope for sealing. Unlike [[Mycenae]], no hidden springs have been discovered.

Sanitation drainage was through a closed system leading to a [[sanitary sewer|sewer]] apart from the hill. The queen's [[megaron]] contained an example of the first known water-flushing system [[latrine]] adjoining the bathroom. This toilet was a seat over a drain that was flushed by pouring water from a jug. The bathtub located in the adjoining bathroom similarly had to be filled by someone heating, carrying, and pouring water, and must have been drained by overturning into a [[floor drain]] or by bailing. This toilet and bathtub were exceptional structures within the 1,300-room complex.

As the hill was periodically drenched by torrential rains, a runoff system was a necessity. It began with channels in the flat surfaces, which were zigzag and contained catchment basins to control the water velocity. Probably the upper system was open. Manholes provided access to parts that were covered.

Some links to photographs of parts of the water-collection-management system follow.
*Runoff system.<ref>[http://www.minoancrete.com/knossos13b.jpg JPEG image]. minoancrete.com, Ian Swindale. Retrieved on 2013-05-12.</ref> Sloped channels lead from a catchment basin.
*Runoff system.<ref>[http://www.dartmouth.edu/~classics/greece2003/updates/week1_2/0401Knossos8Web.jpg JPEG image]. Dartmouth.edu. Retrieved on 2012-01-02.</ref> Note the zig-zags and the catchment basin.