{"id":18240,"date":"2025-01-30T09:54:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T14:54:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/?p=18240"},"modified":"2026-03-30T08:59:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:59:03","slug":"water-towers-critical-assets-for-quality-of-life-and-fire-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/applications\/water-towers-critical-assets-for-quality-of-life-and-fire-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Towers: Critical Assets for Quality of Life and Fire Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many municipalities around the U.S. and the world rely on elevated storage tanks to supply their daily water needs. Water towers have a rich history, and can be as fascinating as they are functional. Read about the various types of water storage tanks, and try your hand at some water tower trivia!<\/strong><\/p>\n

When driving through towns and smaller cities, especially in the South and Midwest, an iconic sight is their water towers. No two are alike \u2013 at least on the outside, since most of them are painted with municipality\u2019s name and logo. Some are even whimsical, such as Peachoid in Gaffney, South Carolina, and its smaller cousin, Big Peach in Clanton, Alabama. Many universities, manufacturing plants, and other larger facilities have water towers too.<\/p>\n

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, water towers in larger cities were often stately structures reflecting the architectural styles in vogue at the time: Neoclassical, Gothic Revival, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, etc. About 100 water towers and tanks \u2013 most of them decommissioned \u2013 are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, according to the Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Water Towers: Functions and Forms<\/h2>\n

Water towers can be landmarks and points of pride. Of course, their larger purpose is functional.<\/p>\n

What water towers do<\/h2>\n

It takes energy to convey water from a source to its destination. Aqueducts constructed during the Roman Empire relied on gravitational energy alone to transport large amounts of water from higher elevations to lower elevations. Today, a system of pumps<\/a> and pipes use kinetic energy to move water around, such as from a wastewater treatment plant<\/a> to a city\u2019s homes, buildings, factories, and fire hydrants.<\/p>\n

Pumps alone could satisfy a municipality\u2019s water needs. But buying enough pumps for a city can be expensive, not to mention the cost of fuel to run them continuously. That\u2019s why many municipalities have elevated storage tanks. When demand is low, such as overnight, pumps at ground level lift the water, filling the tanks and giving the water potential energy. This stored energy is released, becoming kinetic energy thanks to the pull of gravity, when demand is high, such as in the morning and evening or for fire suppression. This is why a community\u2019s water tower is typically sized to hold a day\u2019s worth of water.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Water Tower Trivia<\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0You think you know about water towers? Test your knowledge with this quiz!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a01) NYC has about how many rooftop water tanks?
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>a. 5,000 to 10,000
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>b. 10,000 to 15,000
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>c. 15,000 to 20,000
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>d. 20,000 to 25,000<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02) What type of storage tank is the Chicago Water Tower?
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>a. Underground storage tank
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>b. Fluted column
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>c. Gothic Revival
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>d. Standpipe<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a03) Which type of elevated storage tank has a concrete shaft and a steel tank?
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>a. Cone-top<\/span>
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>b. Pedesphere
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>c. Composite
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>d. Double cone<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a04) The decommissioned water tower in Collinsville, Illinois, is famous for\u2026
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>a. being the world\u2019s largest catsup bottle
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>b. its Dixie Cup shape
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>c. replicating the Tower of Pisa
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>d. looking like a Swedish-style coffee pot<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Find the answers at the end of this article.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There are several advantages to storing water in an elevated tank:<\/p>\n