The photo above is another gem from Upper West Sider Michael Huitt. Check out other shots he’s allowed us to post here and here, and go to his website for more of his work.
By Maria Gorshin
It’s another dirty and gritty August in the city, the right time for obscure facts about NYC H2O and our city’s iconic water towers. The towers hold a special place in the hearts of many New Yorkers. Maybe it’s a fetish for industrial architecture, or a longing for a time when structures were both beautiful and useful.
- New York City’s water supply system dates back to 1677 when the first public well was dug at Bowling Green.
- During the 1700s, water was distributed through hollow logs that originated on Broadway, Pearl and Reade Streets.
- The city’s first large-scale reservoir was located in what is now Times Square. It was discontinued in 1890.
- More than 1 billion gallons of fresh, clean water travel 125-miles each day through 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts to bring water to the five boroughs. Meanwhile, 7,400 miles of sewer lines carry wastewater out of the city.
- When you have a drink of water, take a shower or wash the dishes, the water you use likely comes from a tank located on the roof of your building.
- The wooden water tanks that dot New York City’s skyline first came into use during the 1800s when buildings over six stories were first constructed.
- Water tanks are more than nostalgia pieces – they serve as storage devices that provide buildings with water pressure.
- Since the 1800s, all water towers in NYC have been built by one of two family-owned businesses. Today those businesses are run by 5th and 6th generational descendants.
- The original water tower builders were barrel makers.
- Rooftop tanks store 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of water at a time.
- Water tanks are periodically emptied and scrubbed clean with a chlorine solution by two-man crews.
For more on the engineering behind water towers, see How Stuff Works.
Maria Gorshin, who runs the blog City Girl Writes, is a West Side Rag columnist and native Upper West Sider.
Dear Maria, I came across your site in search of remaining visible water towers in New York. I am a visual artist and I’m currently creating oil paintings featuring New York’s landmark water towers. I was wondering if you would know some of the locations of some of them within the boroughs as I’ve seen many along the west side between 52nd and 57th Streets. I am a Queens resident and I’ve seen the metal tanks in Jamaica and there used to be a big checkerboard one but I don’t know if it still exists. Lately, they appear more like silohs. I would love to view as many as possible before they are enclosed or their views are obscured by construction. Whatever information you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you. Susan Varo
Dear Susan, I was wondering if you ever received any addresses of particularly charming water towers.
Thanks from a fellow artist, in Canada, David W. Jones.