Once upon a time in Kraków...water came from contaminated wells, sewage was dumped into the streets, diseases and epidemics were rife. In the 19-th century, the average life expectancy in Kraków was just 30 years! The construction of a water supply and sewerage system was prevented by numerous invasions. The sanitary situation of the city was disastrous, as proven by numerous epidemics and the high mortality rate of its inhabitants. It took Kraków's residents many years to understand how important hygiene and sanitation were.