How is it distributed and what purpose does it serve?
2007-08-02 14:24:22 · 6 answers · asked by AlliK 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Ok I get why it's there now, but what about when it runs out? How do they get the water back in there?
2007-08-02 15:01:10 · update #1
And where does the water that goes into the tower come from and what transports it to the water tower?
2007-08-02 15:04:58 · update #2
Water gets into the tower by pumps that are controlled to maintain a specific level. The water in the tank does not run out even though most of it goes out during a single day because electric pumps are sending new water up into the tank through its connection to the water mains. If the water stayed in the tank it would get stagnant and full of germs. Turnover to avoid that is part of the system design.
Even if the pumps or their power supply failed there is enough pressure from the height of the water in the tank to supply distribution and firefighting needs for a reasonable time period.
2007-08-02 16:15:58 · answer #1 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking about the water towers seen on the roofs of buildings, their purpose is two fold.
1. It is easier to use the level of the water in the tower to provide a source of nearly constant water pressure
to the faucets etc. in the buildings where municipal water pressure is variable or insufficient to raise the water to the height of the building.
Without the tower, a pressure pump system would have to be operated constantly which is more expensive to install an to run.
With the tower, a simple float switch turns on a pump to fill the tower to the required level when the level sinks too low. Cheap and simple to run and maintain.
2. If the building is equipped with a sprinkler system, water pressure must be available no matter what may happen elsewhere. The tower is a simple means of guaranteeing this.
In some buildings the tower serves both functions with the top level being used for the domestic water and the lower level, (inacessable to the domestic water supply), used as a sprinkler reserve.
In both cases, the water is pumped up to the tanks from ground level.
2007-08-02 22:41:45 · answer #2 · answered by Irv S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The water tower is for building up pressure.
Imagine a town of 3000 people and in the morning, at least half that population would be in the bathroom needing good water pressure. The purification plant cannot supply that amount of pressure. It would be too expensive to install all the pumps needed to maintain a lot of pressure for just two or three peak hours of the day.
However, the town can afford to install a weak pump that slowly and gradually pump water all the way up to the top of the tower throughout the whole day.
2007-08-02 21:37:04 · answer #3 · answered by miamidot 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It supplies the water to your house. The reason it's in a tower is because as the water is drained to your house, it acts as a siphon, pulling more water into the water tower. This conserves more energy than continuously pumping water from electric pumps at ground level.
2007-08-02 21:33:07 · answer #4 · answered by Magaroni 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The water in the tower is the water supplied to your house. It is elevated to help with water pressure , it pushes it out of your faucets. It is distributed through pipes underground.
2007-08-02 21:30:13 · answer #5 · answered by Patrick M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think it would be for storage and pressure
distributed thru main lines, then taps are made called services to supply residences, or buisnesses. in-line valves are also installed to isolate lines, for maint. purposes.To get the fall (pressure of the amount of water from highest point to lowest point) is Height(H) or head of in feet Pressure (P) in LB per sq. inch
Head pressure=.43xH
2007-08-02 21:30:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋