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Image Credit: Cees Passchier
Study Finds Early Pompeii Baths Used Contaminated Water
A new archaeological study suggests that some of the earliest public baths in Pompeii offered a bathing experience far removed from modern ideas of hygiene. Research indicates that bath water in the Republican Baths, used between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, was heavily contaminated by human waste and traces of lead, and was likely replaced only once a day.
The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are based on chemical analysis of calcium carbonate deposits preserved in the bath complex. Before Pompeii was connected to an aqueduct, these early baths relied on well and cistern water, lifted by mechanical devices and circulated through small pools.
Analysis shows that water quality deteriorated significantly between its source and the heated bathing pools. The lowest carbon-isotope values were recorded in drainage areas, pointing to the accumulation of organic matter from microbial activity and bathers themselves, including sweat, oils, and other waste. Together, these indicators suggest that the water was cloudy and unhygienic, especially before daily replenishment.
The study also identified elevated lead levels, likely introduced through lead piping used in the bath complex. Although mineral buildup inside the pipes may have reduced lead exposure over time, the presence of the metal highlights additional health risks associated with early Roman bathing infrastructure.
Despite these conditions, public baths remained central to Roman social life. The researchers note that bath use likely continued because fees were low and facilities served as important social spaces, even if bathers spent limited time in the warm pools themselves.
Published on: 17-01-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
Source: Live Science