How did people survive in the desert and among the rocks without water?
The people of Petra were experts in terms of the technology connected to water. They built cisterns, dams, tunnels, and reservoirs, and the city was an oasis for tired travelers. These amazing technologies allowed the locals to remain in the city, even during droughts.
During certain periods, there were times of ample water, so the locals built dams and aqueducts that changed the direction of the rainwater into the city so that people could live in comfort.