Water Supplies in UK

[ebee]

water question.

I know that in America they have water towers.
Do we?

To maintain flow & pressure they use water towers therefore any pumps used need only maintain enough pressure to fill the tank (Tower) at the average flow rate required rather than the flow rate that maximum demand would require.

This saves a fortune on pumps (and electric supplies to them) by using water towers for storage.

Do we do the same or do we just have pumps rated at maximum demand? I`ve never seen water towers here unless they are cleverly disguised as summat else therefore blend in.

 

[Jackrae]

Reservoirs up a hill is better than any pump, but we do also have towers and pumps. I used to live in the shadow of a large concrete tower.

 

[dhutch]

water question.

I know that in America they have water towers.
Do we?

Yes we do, but also, we have storage tanks placed on hills, which removed the need for the tower.

Infact, here we are.....

http://bwtas.blogspot.co.uk/



Daniel

 

[ebee]

Thanks for the reply,
yes reservoirs I have seen but many of them are below the water line of many local houses so I reasoned that they must be fed by a pump or some other storage tower perhaps

 

[ebee]

Thanks hutch too.
not noticed any around here (yet) I will have to look

 

[dann09]

There are water towers all over the UK. From the 18thC on country gentry built them disguised as follies or fake watch towers on hill tops etc.

High rise structures often situate enormous holding tanks on their roofs, similar, in a way, to the domestic CWST in many lofts.

Many ingenious "pumping" devices have been invented to get the water to the high tank in the first place. That wonderful character, Fred Dibnah, did a program on this subject.

We miss you Fred, one of the few sane people on television.

 

[D_Hailsham]

Reservoirs up a hill is better than any pump

Just wondering how the water gets into the reservoir. Relying just on rainfall would probably be a non-starter.

 

[flameport]

A fairly new one here which certainly does not blend in at all.
and an older one here

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Depending on the geography of the area water supplies can often be pumped. Anglian Water's area is quite flat (especially the Fens!) so water (and sewage) has to be pumped to move it to required areas.

Some reservoirs have a river feeding them, but at certain times water is abstracted from other rivers and pumped to the reservoir to maintain levels.

Locally, then a tower (and/or underground storage reservoir) if often sited at a suitable high point to allow gravity to provide local supplies at required pressures. Some larger buildings e.g. hospitals or factories may even have their own water tower on site, either as a seperate structure or incorporated into the building. The former St Crispins hospital at Northampton had a water tank built into the clock tower, access to the clock was through a shaft within the water tank.

 

[Whitespirit66]

I know that in America they have water towers.
Do we?

The water tower on the Downs in Bristol is quite a local landnmark. It was built in 1955.

View media item 60204

 

[Tom1981]

Water towers are littered over Norfolk.