Water Towers

A water tower is an elevated structure supporting a water tank constructed at a height sufficient to pressurize a water supply system for the distribution of potable water, and to provide emergency storage for fire protection. In some places, the term standpipe is used interchangeably to refer to a water tower.

Water Towers Worldwide

برج الماء في المشهد البحريني — Water Tower in the Bahraini Landscape

Order Digital Image 12.955 on A4 scale

Wassertürmen Weltweit

Order Digital Image 13.041 on A4 scale

Water towers often operate in conjunction with underground or surface service reservoirs, which store treated water close to where it will be used. Other types of water towers may only store raw (non-potable) water for fire protection or industrial purposes, and may not necessarily be connected to a public water supply.
Water towers are able to supply water even during power outages, because they rely on hydrostatic pressure produced by elevation of water (due to gravity) to push the water into domestic and industrial water distribution systems; however, they cannot supply the water for a long time without power, because a pump is typically required to refill the tower. A water tower also serves as a reservoir to help with water needs during peak usage times.

Torres de Agua en Todo el Mundo

世界各地水塔的照片和视频

Châteaux d’Eau Dans le Monde

والصور وأشرطة الفيديو من أبراج المياه في جميع أنحاء العالم

Torri d’Acqua in Tutto il Mondo

The water level in the tower typically falls during the peak usage hours of the day, and then a pump fills it back up during the night. This process also keeps the water from freezing in cold weather, since the tower is constantly being drained and refilled.