Water Tower

Water towers can be seen “everywhere, especially if you live in a flat area full of smart towns,” and are “incredibly simple devices” which are “simply a large, elevated tank of water” and are “tall to provide pressure” for water distribution [1]. The design of water towers “allows for centralization of pumping and pressurization” which “keeps the cost of water distribution lower” [4].

To function effectively to service the nearby area, water towers must be “tall enough to supply pressure to all of the houses and businesses in the area of the tower,” so they are “typically located on high ground." Water towers are fed into and transmit water out through “primary feeder pipes” attached to the water tower and often are seen going up through the middle of the water tower into the tank at the top of the tower [1].

A variety of water tower shapes and sizes are also used, with “composite elevated storage tanks (CETs)," the “multi-column elevated storage tank (LEG),” the “pedesphere elevated storage tank (PED),” the “fluted column elevated storage tank (FLC),” and the “ground supported flat bottom storage tank (FB)." This variety of tanks have features that range from “large diameter steel-reinforced concrete foundations,” “carbon-steel supporting columns and cross braces,” “single circular carbon-steel support pedestals and flared conical bases,” a “single large diameter corrugated carbon-steel support column,” and “welded carbon-steel cylindrical water storage tanks” [2].

Visually, “many water towers are tall and look like giant lollipops” [3]. The utility of water towers does also apply to making a visual statement, as they can “provide a stunning architectural landmark for commercial as well as private properties and are often used in public parks, shopping centers, and of course on ranches” with the high elevation “providing high visibility for signage and advertising to attract new visitors or customers” [5].

References

[1] Brain, M. (2021, May 5). How Water Towers Work. HowStuffWorks. Retrieved (2021, July 17), from https://people.howstuffworks.com/water.htm

[2] Caldwell Tanks, Inc. (n.d.). Water Tank Guide. Retrieved (2021, July 18), from http://www.caldwellwatertanks.com/water-tank-guide.html

[3] Geggel, L. (2016, March 31). How Do Water Towers Work? Live Science. Retrieved (2021, July 17), from https://www.livescience.com/54236-how-do-water-towers-work.html

[4] Henderson Water Utility. (n.d.). Why Do We Have Water Towers? Retrieved (2021, July 17), from https://www.hkywater.org/education/i-didnt-know-that/why-water-towers#:~:text=The%20primary%20function%20of%20water,down%20and%20through%20the%20system

[5] Water Storage Tanks, Inc. (n.d.). Elevated Tanks on Towers. Retrieved (2021, July 18), from https://waterstoragetanksinc.com/water-storage-tank-applications/elevated-tanks-on-towers/