10. How Do Water Towers Work?
Water towers are a ubiquitous part of the New York City skyline, but how do they actually work? Most of New York City’s water travels to the city purely by the force of gravity, gaining enough speed and pressure to travel up to six floors high naturally (roughly 60 to 75 feet). This is impressive, but many New York City buildings are much, much taller. In order to get water to the upper floors of the tallest buildings, you need pumps and water storage. Enter the water tower. Traditionally, water towers are made of cedar wood or California redwood planks held together like a barrel with steel hoops. The wood is highly effective at insulating the water, keeping the water from freezing in the winter. Though the concept of water towers is simple and seems old-fashioned, they are still very much in use today. Check out some of the most unique water towers in NYC right here including the giant water towers at the World Trade Center!
Next, check out 10 secrets of the Hudson River
