What is a Water Tower?

A water tower is a structure designed to hold a reservoir of water and also to help maintain the water pressure in a municipal water system. Water towers have been used for centuries to hold supplies of water, and are capable of providing water even in the event of a power outage or pump failure, because they are elevated, meaning that the water in the water tower will pressurize the pipes with the assistance of gravity. Many areas use water towers as backup water supply systems to ensure that citizens have access to running water, and most small towns can store up to a day's worth of water in their water towers. For every foot above the ground, a water tower is capable of generating more pressure. Typically, a water tower is installed on raised ground, and the tank of the tower is elevated to increase the potential pressure. In a small town, a single water tower can pressurize enough water to supply water to the entire town. In large cities, tall private buildings sometimes use ...  more

christian.senger, on April 22, said: Thanks for your votes, koromiska, juncujuncu and Alireza Shakernia! Water towers were used to build up preasure in the water distribution system in former times, nowaddays I think they are all out of use. This one's approximately 100 years old and one of the main sights of my home town, Hockenheim.  more