Using the example of Roman armies in the camps built in relation to numerous campaigns of the second century BC against, the Celtiberian City of Numantia, which culminated in the infamous siege, some eye-watering sewage statistics emerge for when an army encamped, and the impact on the local area is astonishing. The conclusions can be applied in a suitably scaled manner to other ancient armies – sewage was as much a part of all their everyday lives as eating, drinking, and sleeping.
Sewage
Britain is particularly good for indicating how common latrines must also have been in military installations, as 40 per cent (137 examples) have yielded evidence of latrines. The best-known is the rather sophisticated stone-built communal latrine with flushing water system at Housesteads, Hadrian's Wall. Such latrines are frequently found close to fort perimeters and at the lower end of sloping sites. This makes good practical sense regarding drainage, hygiene, and smell. Several smaller latrines are known from officers’ quarters in barrack blocks, with the size of some suggesting they, were shared by the unit. There are also latrines that probably served only the individual tent-group of troops (the contubernium), located in the unit's front room (arena). In addition, there are individual latrines for commanding officers.
It is challenging to estimate the quantity of sewage requiring disposal at Roman forts or camps, as the amount generated depends on various factors, such as diet, lifestyle, and age. A modern study showed that the main factor in the amount of
