Water conduits (constructed)

The conduit is cut into the floor and it is covered with tiles (as seen by the inspection hatches). The tiles are at a lower level than the floor, but the cocciopesto surface is completely missing above the conduit.
Henrik Boman & Monika Nilsson

Two inspection covers (hatches) of terracotta were found at a distance of 0.18 m (diam: 0.11 m) and 1.2 m (diam: 0.2 m) from the W threshold. The hatches do not fit the corresponding cut holes since they are somewhat too large.

The conduit is still sealed, with the exceptions of the two hatches, and the top layer above the conduit might have been in another material than cocciopesto to ease an eventual repair or cleaning of the conduit. It could also be that the conduit is a later installation than the floor surface since the impluvium of the atrium is a later addition.

The conduit in the atrium and tablinum was filled with almost 100% pure earth that we assume are post eruption, so the conduit was in use when Vesuvius erupted.