By Aysal Elham
Beneath the marble paved squares and cobbled alleys at the heart of Venice lies a forgotten marvel of human ingenuity. Venice, the Italian city built on water spread across 118 islands, interlinked by canals and bridges, and inhabited for centuries without a natural source of fresh water. Its survival hinges on a wise water system that still holds lessons for us today.
More than six hundred ancient rainwater wells, constructed centuries ago to quench the thirst of a city surrounded by brackish water. These underground cisterns, once the lifeblood of Venice, are not just relics of the past they are blueprints for our future, especially for countries like Pakistan, grappling with acute water scarcity and the escalating threats of climate change.
Venice’s geography is a paradox: a peninsular city floating in a saltwater lagoon, with no rivers or underground freshwater reserves. Yet, as early as the 12th century, Venetians devised a decentralized, community based system to collect and preserve rainwater. Streets and courtyards were designed to gently channel rain into underground tanks, sealed with clay and bricks to keep saltwater out. Filtered through layers of sand, the water was drawn from stone wells many of which still stand in Venice’s squares. This system sustained the city for centuries, proving that with intent and strategy, water self sufficiency is possible even in the harshest conditions.
Today, as climate change melts glaciers, disrupts monsoon patterns, and intensifies droughts, Pakistan stands at the brink of a severe water crisis. Per capita water availability has dropped to alarming levels, and underground reserves are depleting rapidly.In this context, Venice’s ancient wells are more than mere historical curiosities , they present a viable model for sustainable water management. They exemplify rainwater self reliance by capturing local rainfall, thereby reducing dependence on rivers and underground aquifers. Their decentralized infrastructure empowers communities at the grassroots level, fostering local ownership and resilience. Moreover, these systems are low-cost and low-energy, making them both sustainable and adaptable to local contexts particularly relevant for regions like Pakistan facing water scarcity and climate stress.
Imagine every school in Karachi collecting rainwater in clean tanks. Lahore’s heritage sites becoming water harvesting hubs. Traditional havelis in Tharparkar equipped with rooftop rain catchment systems. Pakistan’s own architectural legacy from Sindh’s stepwells to Punjab’s baolis already bears witness to this wisdom. We need only to revive these traditions through a national movement that unites policy, design, and public awareness.
To turn this vision into reality, Pakistan must take a series of strategic and community driven steps. First, it should mandate rainwater harvesting in urban building codes, ensuring that every new construction contributes to water sustainability. Alongside this, the country must prioritize the restoration of traditional water structures such as stepwells and baolis through active community partnerships that foster local ownership and stewardship. Public spaces like schools, mosques, and parks should be transformed into living demonstration sites, showcasing practical models of water conservation. Finally, integrating water literacy into educational curricula is essential, linking climate education with civic responsibility and nurturing a generation that understands and values sustainable water practices.
In this era of climate anxiety and environmental decline, Venice’s wells remind us that sustainability is not a modern invention , it is a continuation of ancestral wisdom. They teach us that true resilience doesn’t only emerge in laboratories, but in communities that learn to live in harmony with nature, not against it. Pakistan stands at a crossroads. Will we continue chasing mega-dams and vanishing aquifers, or will we look into the earth, learn from our past, and rediscover the wells of our survival?
Climate Governance Analyst / MPhil Media Studies
