New York City's Ubiquitous Wooden Water Towers

New York Style Water Tank

New York City's skyline is famous for many things such as soaring Art Deco topped skyscrapers and grand spires. One building element that can be seen atop almost all of New York City's taller buildings is a distinctive form of the water tower. These unique wooden water towers began springing up across the Big Apple in the 1800's as buildings began to grow taller.

Water towers are utilized in taller buildings. They are installed because the water pressure in New York City's water mains is not sufficient to provide water at acceptable pressures for fixtures such as lavatories or showers at higher storys. If water service in the streets was to be provided at greater pressures, it would cause water pipes to burst.

New York City's wooden water tanks are typically used in buildings over six stories tall. Potable water is pumped up from the water main in the street into these storage tanks. When water is later used at a fixture or for fire fighting purposes, gravity allows the water to flow down from the water tank at the proper pressure.


Cedar Water Tanks

New York City's distinctive water towers construction has descended from the tradition of coopers or barrel makers. These old barrel makers expanded into the burgeoning new water tank business as New York City grew taller. These tanks are constructed of cedar wood and are held together by steel cables. This method of construction allows for members to be more easily rigged into position atop a roof for installation. The cedar members constituting the tank walls are not water tight upon completion of installation. They leak until the wooden members absorb enough water and swell. The swelling of the cedar members makes the water tanks tight. The Cedar tanks are usually built atop a supporting steel structure.

These water tanks are still used because they are more affordable than steel water tanks and due the ease of assembly. These unique New York City water towers have a life span of about 35 years. Only two companies build these tanks today in New York. These last two companies are Isseks Brothers and the Rosenwach company. Both of these companies have been in existence since the late 1800's and can provide a new water tower in the event of an emergency in a few days.


Roof Top Water Towers

These water tanks which were originally strictly functional and utilitarian are actually quite beautiful. This is certainly the case because they grace the top of so many of New York City's taller buildings. These Cedar structure are both functional and beautiful. If one looks close, they can see these tried and proven structures everywhere atop New York City. The Cedar water tanks are as uniquely New York as the Empire State Building or Central Park.