Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
WATER TOWERS
The use of elevated water storage tanks has existed since ancient times. Modern water towers for pressurized public water systems developed during the mid-19th century. Steam-pumping became more common and better pipes capable of handling higher pressures were developed.
Water towers store water and energy. The process begins at the water treatment plant where after being treated it is pumped through pipes either be used immediately or to a water tower for storage. Because the pumps from the treatment plant send the water up into the water tower's tank, the water gains stored energy. This energy allows the water to flow out of the tank, turning its potential energy into kinetic energy when needed. The taller the water tower, the more potential energy the water has. If a water tower is designed to hold water for a large metropolitan area it will likely be tall and have an enormous tank. A standard water tower can hold 50 times the volume of a regular backyard swimming pool, which holds about 20,000 to 30,000 gallons. (1)
Water towers fill up when demand for water is low. This usually happens at night. (2)
Water towers also ensure a supply of water during power outages, at least until the water runs out. Because the water in the tower already has potential energy, it doesn't need more electricity to flow out of the tank. (3)
Demand for water in the hill districts, which gravity pressure failed to reach, grew by 1880. A wooden water tank was constructed at Julien and Wilson avenues. When filled, this served the hill district and the homes below that level with adequate water. (40) Residents on Fenelon Avenue without water for cooking or drinking suggested in 1886 the digging of an artesian well and raising water with a wind mill. (4) In 1888 a new pumping station was constructed and an artesian well was drilled at the bottom of 8th Street. A 400,000 gallon standpipe was built on Delhi in 1889 to provide water to residents at a higher elevation in the city. The water supply for the standpipe came from the artesian well drilled at the site of the pumping station. (5)
In 1897 Democrats prior to the local election introduced a number of resolutions. One dealing with the establishment of water reservoirs read, in part,
It is therefore the sense of this convention that the city should
proceed at once.....to add thereto a separate high pressure system
system for fire protection with water reservoirs on the bluffs to
an elevation to maintain a pressure; for fire purposes that will
throw water over any building below the bluffs without the aid of
fire engines... (6)
In 1914 a 7.12 million gallon water reservoir costing $83,000 was established in the Fenelon Place or Prospect Hill area. This was intended to be a major part of the city's attempt to create an effective municipal water system. The reservoir failed to meet expectations. Because of algae infestations, the reservoir had to be drained bi-monthly and therefore was never completely filled. It was covered in 1922. (7)
The waterworks plant on West Third was in place by 1937. When completed, 10 and 12 inch pipes were installed along West 3rd, Burch, West 5th, and Hill streets to connect with a new water tower at College and West 3rd. Hopes were raised that guaranteed water pressure would lower resident's fire protection insurance premiums by guaranteeing water pressure to all neighborhoods. (8)
During WORLD WAR II, sentries and chain-link fences protected city water reservoirs against potential contamination by saboteurs.
Sometimes large industrial plants have such a demand for water that officials have private towers constructed. In 1946 the JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS had two towers with the pumping station located near the mouth of LITTLE MAQUOKETA RIVER. (9) Used for both industrial and domestic use, the water in the towers came from a deep well. (10)
Construction projects in 1963 included building a 2.5 million gallon standpipe near Asbury and Carter, a 1.5 million gallon tank at Gay and Muscatine, and a booster station at the same site. The construction provided more water volume in the hill area and north of 24th St. Better fire protection was declared to be a benefit.
The start-up for the Fourth Zone Water Tower near the intersection of Kennedy Road and the Northwest Arterial was announced by the Dubuque city council and the City of Dubuque Water Department in November, 2003. A concrete base, one of a few in Iowa, supports a steel bowl capable of holding 1.2 million gallons of water. The design was projected to save the city thousands of dollars in maintenance. The tower was planned to service the western part of Dubuque along with the INDUSTRIAL PARKS and areas of future growth. The structure cost nearly $1.2 million. (11)
A new water tower was proposed in August 2017 to improve pressure and fire protection on the North End of Dubuque. Water pressure from 20 to 25 pounds per square inch (psi) had been recorded. This was in comparison to 60 to 80 psi needed for adequate fire protection with a minimum of 35 psi to serve current and future development. A site had been purchased for a tower in 2010 but the project proved too costly to continue. As an alternative, a booster pump station had been used to increase pressure. The engineering, construction, inspection and contingency for the new tower was estimated to cost more than $5.5 million. The work, however, would save the city $62,000 in structural repairs to the 500,000 gallon EAGLE POINT water tower which would no longer be needed. Additional savings of $10,000 in annual expense would also be realized by taking two smaller pumping stations offline. Completion of the new tower was expected by the spring or summer of 2020. (12)
Water towers by 2001 had proven important sites for wireless communication. The tremendous growth of wireless services could have led to a great number of towers being constructed. Instead, city officials identified locations on buildings, water towers and properties for antennas. One of the best sites in this category was the West Third Street water tower. (13)
See: WATER DEPARTMENT
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Source:
1. Geggel, Laura, "How Do Water Towers Work?" LiveScience, March 31, 2016, Online: https://www.livescience.com/54236-how-do-water-towers-work.html
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. "The News in Brief," The Daily Herald, June 15, 1886, p. 4
5. Oldt. p. 21
6. "Named the Winners," The Dubuque Herald, March 26, 1897, p. 8
7. Phase V Architectural/Historical Survey/Evaluation Final Report. Online: http://weblink.cityofdubuque.org/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=44950&page=1&searchid=9d0a32ca-655e-4868-b2d1-db38eb62e79b, p. 30
8. Phase V Architectural/Historical Survey/Evaluation Final Report. Online: http://weblink.cityofdubuque.org/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=44950&page=1&searchid=9d0a32ca-655e-4868-b2d1-db38eb62e79b,
9. "Water Towers at Deere Ready," Telegraph-Herald, February 10, 1946, p. 1
10. "Deere Tractor Plant Here at Half Way Mark," Telegraph-Herald, March 24, 1946, p. 15
11. "Dubuque Will Unveil New Water Tower," Telegraph Herald, November 30, 2003, p. 1
12. Barton, Thomas A. "Pressure Builds for Water Tower on North End," Telegraph Herald, August 19, 2017, p. 1A
13. Coyle, Erin, "Tower Ordinance Leads to Lawsuit," Telegraph Herald, April 1, 2001, p. 2A
