All About Water

What Is a Water Tower: An Introduction

We see water towers all of the time, yet many of us are unsure what exactly they do. Just what is a water tower, anyway? Put succinctly, a water tower is an elevated water storage system that we use to pressurize and distribute our water.

What Is a Water Tower: The Purpose of Water Towers

Domestic water supplies must be pressurized if they are to be considered safe. Insufficiently pressurized water can cause a slew of problems. Insufficiently pressurized water may not be able to reach the upper floors of buildings, or to spray forcefully enough. More dangerously, insufficiently pressurized water that flows over hilly areas may become negatively charge and suck in groundwater. This untreated groundwater is likely contaminated with microorganisms and harmful chemicals, and would pollute drinking water supplies. Water towers also help us by acting as a reservoir during peak water, or water shortages.

What Is a Water Tower: How Water Towers are Built

Water towers vary greatly in appearance and material. These pressurizing, elevated water storage systems have to be at least twenty feet tall. On average, water towers are about 130 feet tall. Water towers must be rounded, but can come in many shapes, like spherical and cylindrical. We can make water towers out of many different materials, like steel and concrete. However, we always line water towers’ interiors to protect water from absorbing these construction materials. Because water towers depend on hydrostatic pressure, they function even during power outages. Refilling the water tower, however, does require electricity. The water tower’s water supplies fall during peak hours, and then are refilled at night.

What Is a Water Tower: The History of the Water Tower

The water tower became popular during the Industrial Revolution, as growing communities recognized their need to pressurize and distribute water. Often these water towers were elaborately decorated—they were painted, or surrounded by brickwork or trellises. Many of these water towers are now perceived as architectural landmarks, and are therefore preserved for historical posterity. Today, many water towers form the highest point in several small towns, and they are therefore used as community rallying points. They are outfitted with antennae or warning sirens, and are sometimes used to advertise local happenings. In recent years, however, many people are switching away from water towers. Instead, they are constructing pumps on top of pipes to increase water pressure. While these pumps are more straightforward than water towers, they are potentially more dangerous. If the pumps fail, then the decreased water pressure might suck contaminated water into the domestic water supplies. What is a water tower? A safe device for storing and pressurizing water that is now being supplanted by less safe alternatives.

Many people hear about hard and soft water without really knowing what those terms mean. Understanding how water is classified lets a homeowner make an informed choice when it comes to the family drinking water and general household water supply. Some people absolutely love soft water, while others strictly prefer the qualities of hard water.

What are the differences between hard and soft water?

Hard water contains naturally occurring concentrations of calcium, lime and magnesium. This can be seen in the residue that hard water can leave behind on surfaces like shower walls and sinks. Soft water, on the other hand, is treated to only contain ions of sodium, giving soft water a slightly salty taste. Because of this, people may notice a subtle difference in the tastes of hard and soft water.

Both types of water originate with rainwater that filters through underground rocks. Water becomes ‘hard’ when the water passes through soft, loose rock containing minerals and calcium that easily break apart and are carried into the water flow. In contrast, soft water passes through hard granite rock, picking up very trace amounts of minerals.

Between hard and soft water, why would a person want soft water?

Some homeowners prefer soft water because the lack of mineral content keeps their kitchen appliances and plumbing from requiring extra maintenance, while lengthening their life spans. Hard water deposits are also harder to clean from surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen.

Bathing in soft water has the added health benefit of leaving hair clean without stripping it of important natural oils. It’s also known to be beneficial for those with sensitive or breakout-prone skin, as soft water does not clog pores like hard water can.

Hard and soft water: is hard water harmful?

According to studies done by the National Research Council, there is no evidence that drinking hard water can cause adverse health issues, but can instead be beneficial. Drinking hard water that contains small amounts of calcium and magnesium can be valuable to those who don’t get enough of these minerals by daily diet alone. As such, for health benefits, hard water is more often recommended as the drinking water of choice.

Hard and soft water: how can I tell if my water is hard or soft?

The easiest way to tell if water is hard or soft is to look for residue on surfaces. White, scaly residue or even green discoloration around water pipes means calcium and lime are present in the water. Sometimes, holding a glass of tap water up to the sunlight will show the tiny particles of minerals and calcium deposits that are present in hard water. To be sure, buy a home water testing kit.

The Verdict on Hard and Soft Water

Both hard and soft water have their pros and cons and choosing between hard or soft water for drinking, bathing and household chores is a personal choice. Some families combine the best of both worlds by using hard water for drinking and soft water for bathing and washing clothes, but both are perfectly safe.

Many people wonder how good the water quality in their area is. When water contains contaminants, it leaves behind tiny particles that are dissolved in the water, particles that are called “total dissolved solids.”  This map charts total dissolved solids in the water. Although this chart doesn’t show exactly which contaminants are present in your water and whether they’re bad for you, it’s still a good measure of water purity.

Click on the map to find out more about your local water quality.