How do water towers work? Where does the water come from? How does it get in there? How much? WHY! What do we do with it? Why are they in such random places ???
In: Engineering
A public water supply must maintain 3 basic standards- quality, demand, and pressure. Quality is handled at the water plant, then water is pumped out to the distribution system. Water towers equalize demand and, more importantly, pressure. If your town uses 2 million gallons a day, the plant’s pumps can make a constant 1400 gallons a minute 24/7 and keep the towers full. Spikes in demand from morning and evening showers are accounted for with adequate tower volume. Pumps and chemical dispensers last longer under constant load.
Pressure, however, is primary. Water distribution lines crack, and joints fail. Adequate pressure(>35 psi) means that clean water leaks out and icky ground water doesn’t leak in. Keep in mind that water lines often go under roads, cars leak oil, ag chemicals wash off into streets, roadkill happens, etc. Gross, right? Well the height of the water column in the tower is what determines pressure in the lines. Shape and volume of a water tank don’t actually influence pressure like we imagine they might. It’s a straightforward .43 psi per foot of water height. If power goes out at the plant, the supply in the tank keeps pressure high enough to keep your water safe until we can fix it.
As for being in odd places, the towers go where a spot is available. Same reason county roads are bendy- they’re often built on parcel borders where land is cheaper and easier to get.
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