Hello!
I've come to suggest pipes (not the smoking kind), and after a search, it has never been suggested before!
This would be period-appropriate, because the hand pump was invented in the Roman era.
So, the first thing you would do would be to build an intake at your favorite High Q water source. I think that is should be expensive to build pipelines, definitely using steel bars. Let's say three for a water intake.
So, when you build this water intake, either in shallow water, or in a well "node", the Q of the pipeline's water would equal that of the original water's, but perhaps softcapped by the steel Q.
From then on, you would extend the pipeline much like you would a palisade or fence, each section requiring one bar of steel.
When you reach your desired extraction point, you must build a "Hand Pump" which would require several bars of steel, and perhaps some clay and wood.
Maybe it'd be possible to have pipes be invisible, except for segments that have one open end (so you could easily see where to extend from.) or intakes.
Also, being able to have other structures over them is a must.
When using a pump, it would be just like a well, only with a different animation.
I think that is about it for now, hopefully you liked it!