Most Maya sites had a problem: water storage. Palenque had enough water, however. The watercourses that run through Palenque -generally in a northern direction- flow from the mountains. There are 9 separated watercourses which run through the site.

The Otulum River runs through the center of Palenque. The river springs from the mountains. In the center the city theMaya build a canal to harness this river's course. This channel is 2 metres deep and 1.5 metres wide. The first 125 meters the water flows openly. Beyond that pint the Maya build a vault above the river, for a stretch of 55 metres. So, they made a land bridge. This aqueduct is the largest at Palenque. Its height is approximately 3 metres tall. After that, the river flows freely and forms many beautiful waterfalls. At the end of the Otulum River Franz Blom found a carved alligator.

Another river in Palenque is the Motiepa River. It runs west of the Otulum. The Maya built a dam and also an aqueduct to harness the course of the Motiepa. But at this time there are no deep studies in this river undertaken as of yet.

Another river is the Piedras Bolas. This river defines the western boundaries of the Xinil Pa' Moises Retreat. The Maya also built an aqueduct for this river. It is approximately 50 cms. wide and 70 cms. deep. And the end it is 25 cm wide and 25 metres deep. Further down is another water conducting feature. It is a combination of complex a drain and an aqueduct, which is working still today.

The next river is the Picota, for which the Maya also built an aqueduct. It is also working until today. The Picota River also forms a waterfall.

Another river was the Murcielagos, over which the Maya built a bridge that has collapsed now. Prior to its collapse the bridge measured roughly 3.5 metres in height and its corbelled arch measured 2.3 metres in width.

So it is easy to understood why the Maya named Palenque Lakam Ha or Big Aater. Fifty six springs flow from the mountains and irrigate this region. There are 2,166 mm of annual rainfall in this region and water bathes the valley through these springs. The four dry months in the region don't affected Palenque. The city has 41 perennial springs within its boundaries. A study to find reservoirs concluded that there was not a single water reservoir in Palenque, water flow and it happened year round... Not one reservoir was found nor needed...

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