What are water towers used for?

Question

What are water towers used for? and do they actually have water in them? (no idea what category to put this under)

Answer 1

Water towers do a couple of things:

First, they do store water. Water consumption fluctuates throughout the day. For instance, a lot of water is used when everyone is getting ready for school and work. The city doesn't want to buy pumps that can pump enough water from walls or other supply sources at those peak times so they build a water tower where water can be stored so there is enough to handle the surges in water use. During the peak times, the water level in the tank is going down but doesn't empty. During the low usage periods the pumps fill up the tank so it can be ready for the next high demand period.

Second, in order to reduce the amount of energy it takes to create water pressure and make it so they don't have to create as much pressure twice (first time being when it is pumped into the tank) they build a tank so that the effect of gravity and the weight of the water in the tank creates natural pressure as the water runs out of the tank into the city pipes.

They also make great places to paint the name of the city or community.

Answer 2

Water towers are tall to provide pressure. Each foot of height provides 0.43 PSI (pounds per square Inch) of pressure. A typical municipal water supply runs at between 50 and 100 PSI (major appliances require at least 20 to 30 PSI). The water tower must be tall enough to supply that level of pressure to all of the houses and businesses in the area of the tower. So water towers are typically located on high ground, and they are tall enough to provide the necessary pressure. In hilly regions, a tower can sometimes be replaced by a simple tank located on the highest hill in the area.

Answer 3

Water towers do have water in them. Water is pumped into them and stored, the water tower then uses gravity to supply water to the community under pressure.

Answer 4

Yeah, they are commonly used in rural areas where the supply lines from a water source are far away. Since water usage is never constant and there can be wild swings in usage rates (as in the case of a fire...) a water tower provides a safe cushion so there are no water shortages at critical times...

Answer 5

to store fresh water on mostly higher ground so that it can run down with gravity.

it can be rain water or purified water (treated water) for human consumption (drinking)

In a way a average gizzer at home, is a water tank (or a heater.. LOL)

In Kruger Park I found open BIG water tanks (like high pools) for the elephant to drink from in case of hot weather

and yes, it can be also for emergency when there is no other supply (connections) close by

Answer 6

They are used to store water, obviously, but the reason for using a tower is to give gravity fed pressure to the area or homes using the water.

Check out these links for some really great information and some of the coolest of these towers around the world!

http://members.tripod.com/~watertowers/
http://www.ohiobarns.com/othersites/watertowers/wt.html

Answer 7

Okay, the pumps and electricity necessary to provide water pressure in communities would make it impractical to have a central water system.

So, they use ONE pump to bring it UP into that huge water tower, where gravity provides a constant water pressure.

Answer 8

They hold a supply of water for the peak usage times. and by storing the water in a tower it provides the necessary pressure. even during apower failure.

Answer 9

of course have water in them!
its an old fashioned but cheap easy and economical way to achieve a good result
its to add pressure to the pipes
gravity helps in pumping the water to homes
a large heavy ammount of water pushes the water and air through the smaller and smaller pipes which makes very high pressure

Answer 10

water towers have water in them as they were designed to pump from large wells storing it to flow to the town. many area's still use them, but a few are not in use anymore. some were designed to catch rain water and store it for future use.