Landscape and Water Networks

Abstract

Historically, water has played an essential role in choosing the location and settlement of a habitat and, consequently, in the configuration of the landscape, building, and urban context. The quality of the inhabitants' hygiene and health depends on water and sewage treatment. Water supply and sanitation are crucial to achieving end-user quality and enjoyment of the home and the city. This case study focuses on the city of Madrid, intrinsically related to water from its origin and name. Therefore, the “mayra” abounds in Madrid and is the “mother of water.” The latter refers to Madrid's location surrounding a large fountain that produced a stream that flowed into the Manzanares River. It recovers photographs of the landscape found in unpublished historical and military archives with the intention of showing certain excavations that affected the El Pardo Woodlands, such as Janini's artesian wells and other missing projects in the Manzanares River Basin.