The 17th century Texas had its version of the famous Roman Aqueducts, primitive stone structures used to channel water from a source to a destination. This is called the Espada Acequia, or also known as Piedras Creek Aqueduct and it can be found in San Antonio, Texas.

The Franciscan friars in Texas built these stone water channels in 1731. The technology was passed on from the Romans and Moors who once ruled early Spain. When the Franciscan friars arrived in Texas region in American Southwest, which was then a Spanish colony, they found the place dry and dry. So they constructed the aqueducts to channel water from the San Antonio River to the farmlands. The aqueducts are still used today by local residents who lived around the area.