In ancient Rome extensive networks of aqueducts provided a public supply of water to Roman cities.
There was extensive theft from this system, often perpetrated by corrupt watermen responsible for installing and maintaining supplies.
In the latter case, instead of simply transferring the existing account to the new occupier, a new pipe was installed from the water tower.
These included the requirement that not only the connectors, but also the pipes had to be stamped with their authorised size along their entire lengths at specified distances.
Watermen previously considered that selling this water was a perk of the job, but could now only be supplied to authorised persons.