Water Tower

infrastructure · water supply · engineering · cities

Gravity does the work. Water towers use gravity to push water down through pipes to homes and businesses below. When water sits high up in the tower, it naturally wants to fall, creating pressure that makes water flow out of your taps.

Elevated and sturdy. Water towers are built at a height tall enough to serve an entire neighborhood or town. They're made from steel or concrete and need to be super strong to hold hundreds of thousands of gallons of water without breaking.

Emergency fire protection. Water towers store extra water that firefighters can use during emergencies. When a fire breaks out, there's already plenty of water stored up high and ready to go, so firefighters don't have to wait for pumps to fill their trucks.

Works with reservoirs. Water towers often team up with underground or surface reservoirs that store treated, clean water near where people live. The tower keeps water moving through the system while the reservoirs hold the main supply.