The Water Museum occupies a beautifully restored historical mansion and explains the remarkable engineering behind Yazd's ancient water supply — the qanat system. Qanats are underground aqueducts, some extending for dozens of kilometres from the mountains, that bring water to desert cities by gravity alone and have kept Yazd habitable for thousands of years. Several of Yazd's qanats are still in use today.
The museum's exhibits include models, historic tools, and photographs showing how qanats are constructed and maintained. A working ab anbar (underground cistern) in the basement gives a direct experience of the cooling system that once supplied every household. The building itself, with its wind towers and tiled interiors, is as interesting as the exhibits. Audio guides are available in English.