Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Water Towers
Oct 19, 2022
Water towers are ingenious structures often overlooked in urban landscapes. They play a crucial role in maintaining water pressure, even during outages. Discover the fascinating engineering principles that allow them to function effectively. The discussion also shines a light on New York's unique water towers, complete with cultural anecdotes and financial quirks. Learn how these towering giants contribute to the water supply and the unique characteristics of urban water systems. It's a deep dive into the unsung heroes of hydration!
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Water Pressure Reliability
- Water pressure is generally a reliable utility, unlike electricity or internet.
- Water outages usually stem from major incidents like water main breaks.
Water Tower Function
- Water towers ensure reliable water pressure by using gravity.
- They store large volumes of water, typically 50 times the amount in a backyard pool.
Gravity and Water Pressure
- Water towers use gravity to pressurize water, eliminating the need for constant pumping.
- The tower's height provides pressure: 0.43 PSI per foot.