Why did most Roman residents collect water from public fountains?

In the Roman water supply system, water was transported from distant sources via aqueducts to terminal distribution reservoirs known as castella. From these reservoirs, water was directed to public baths, large private homes, and numerous public fountains.123

While a small number of wealthy or privileged citizens enjoyed the luxury of having water piped directly into their homes, this was not the standard for the general population. Consequently, most Roman residents relied on public fountains to collect their daily water, carrying it home in containers. These fountains were a ubiquitous feature of the urban landscape, serving as the primary point of access for the bulk of the city's inhabitants.23

Furthermore, the system was designed for constant flow; water ran continuously through these fountains, with the excess water serving the essential secondary purpose of flushing the city's sewers to maintain public sanitation.12