4/28/13

What is a Water Tower?

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What is a Water Tower?

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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 water towers to supply their tenants, since the city's water system is not pressurized enough to get water to the top floors in peak periods of demand. When used in combination with a municipal water system, the pressurizing ability of a water tower serves two primary functions. AdChoices

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What is a Water Tower?

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The first function is to maintain constant pressure in the system, and prevent the emergence of negative pressure situations. Negative pressure can suck groundwater or other sources of pollution into the water supply, contaminating the town's water. A town with a water tower, however, can rest assured that the water lines will be fully pressurized at all times, keeping the water safe to drink. In some areas, a water tower must be attached to the municipal water system for this reason. The second function of a water tower is more economic. A water tower can deliver water at periods of peak demand relatively easily, while a pump may have difficulties. By using a pump and a water tower, a town can save costs on the pump by 10.9K followers pumping for average demand. When demands for water outstrip the abilities of the pump, the water tower kicks in to supply more water. When the pump is providing more water than the town needs, as often happens at night, the excess fills the water tower so that it is ready for the next period of peak demand. AdChoices

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Written By: S.E. Smith Edited By: Bronwyn Harris Copyright Protected: 2003-2013 Conjecture Corporation Print this Article

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What is a Water Tower?

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What is a Water Tower?

anon5 5 8 9 8 Post 5

how many different water tower designs are there, and does the design change how well it works?

anon4 2 6 9 3 Post 4

it seems like you only see water towers in small town and not in bigger cities. why is that? and are there water towers that are still being used in big cities?

donni e aus ti n Post 2

to anon5670. the water does not just sit by idle, it is moved through the system and refilled to the level one chooses to set as the level of the tower. when it gets down to the lower level a sensor will tell the pumps to come on then when it satisfies the pressure setting for full it will turn off. Most every water system is always moving water if not then yes it will turn into a sort of pond water and would not be very good to drink.

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W ate r Towe r W ate r Towe r Hote l W ate r Towe r Pl ac e W ate r Towe r Storage Cool i ng W ate r Towe r if the water just sits there for periods of time, don't the walls grow mold or algae? and not all are 100 percent safe so can you get sick from the water sitting in the mold and fungus?

anon5 6 7 0 Post 1

Post your c omments Post A nonymously

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What is a Water Tower?

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