Spoke highly of how the water was mainly conveyed? (5)

I believe the answer is:

piped

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'spoke' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for piped that I've seen before include "Taken from place to place, as water < music" , "Transported by Tube" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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