Water towers around the world

The Trelleborg water tower was built in 1912 to a design by architect Malte Ljungholm and stands 190 feet (58 meters) tall. This technical structure stores drinking water and defines the city skyline of Trelleborg through its prominent appearance. The tower represents the industrial development and infrastructural solutions of early 20th-century Sweden.

This water tower with brick facade was completed in 1920 and supplied drinking water to Hamburg's northern districts. The structure represents the city's infrastructure development after World War I and combines technical necessity with the brick architecture typical of Hamburg. The tower served for several decades as an important component of the municipal water supply system and demonstrates the industrial construction methods of the interwar period. The facility documents the development of municipal supply infrastructure in major German cities during the early 1920s.

Built in 1923 in Thorpeness, this water tower was designed to resemble a residential building and stands on a wooden structure reaching 69 feet (21 meters) in height. The House in the Clouds combines the technical function of water storage with an architectural design that integrates into the surrounding landscape. This structure represents an approach to water infrastructure where utility is paired with contextual architectural design. The building exemplifies early 20th-century solutions for municipal water supply in coastal communities.

The Torre del Agua stands 250 feet (76 meters) tall and was built for Expo 2008 in Zaragoza, combining technical water supply with contemporary architecture. This structure features a vertical glass facade and steel construction that creates a distinct contrast with the city's historic buildings. The tower serves as a functional water storage facility while also standing as a symbol of innovative engineering in an urban setting. Its transparent facade provides views into the technical installations and demonstrates the integration of functionality and aesthetic design in modern infrastructure.

This 165-foot water tower in Vukovar sustained more than 600 shell impacts during the Croatian War of Independence. The structure provided municipal water storage before suffering severe damage during the 1991 conflict. The tower now stands as testimony to the siege of the city and the destruction of the war. The visible damage to the concrete structure documents the intensity of combat that affected Vukovar.

The Peachoid in Gaffney was built in 1981 and holds 1 million gallons of water. This water tower combines technical function with a notable design solution: its exterior was painted with 50 gallons of paint in the shape of a peach. The structure serves water storage needs while defining the urban landscape of the region through its distinctive form, which references South Carolina's agricultural tradition.

The water tower in Svaneke was designed by Jørn Utzon in 1952 and features geometric forms with white concrete walls marked by horizontal lines. This structure combines technical function with modern Danish architecture and defines the townscape of Svaneke. The tower stores drinking water and represents a characteristic solution of 20th century modern architecture.

The El Águila water tower was built in 1912 as part of the namesake brewery in Madrid and served to supply water for beer production. The structure features neo-Mudejar architectural style with ornamental brickwork and decorative ceramic elements typical of early 20th century industrial architecture in Spain. Following the brewery's closure, the building was restored and converted into a cultural center that now hosts exhibitions and cultural events. This tower stands as evidence of Madrid's industrial past, combining technical function with artistic design.

The underground shaft at Quinta da Regaleira reaches a depth of 90 feet (27 meters) and contains a spiral staircase with 139 steps leading down to a water point. The early 20th-century construction combines symbolic and functional architecture, serving as a ceremonial descent through nine levels rooted in Templar and Masonic initiation philosophy. The shaft forms part of a larger estate featuring tunnels, grottoes, and gardens in Sintra.

This lighthouse in Yokohama was built in 1961 and serves as a navigation aid for ships in the city's harbor. The 348-foot (106-meter) steel structure includes an observation platform that provides visitors with views across Tokyo Bay. The tower also contains a water storage facility to supply the surrounding port area. As a technical structure, it combines maritime infrastructure with public observation facilities and demonstrates the integration of different urban functions in a vertical design.

This monumental water tower in Montpellier was built in the 18th century as part of the city's water supply system. The tower marks the terminus of the Saint-Clément aqueduct, which carries water from the Saint-Clément spring over a distance of 8.7 miles (14 kilometers) to the city. The structure stands on Place du Peyrou and combines technical function with architectural design, typical of the engineering works of this period that served both practical purposes and urban representation.

The Water Tower in Chester rises along the Dee riverbank in the form of a fortified tower from the late medieval period. This stone structure was originally built to monitor and protect the river crossing at the southeastern corner of the Roman city walls. The tower later served the water supply needs of Chester, with its robust masonry preserving the characteristic features of medieval defensive architecture. The connection between military function and civilian infrastructure makes this structure an example of adapting historic fortifications to modern needs.

The Weehawken Water Tower is an engineering structure that provides water storage and distribution for this New Jersey community. Located on the Hudson River opposite Manhattan, this tower stores potable water and maintains consistent water pressure throughout the local distribution network through its elevated position. The tower represents the municipal infrastructure of American suburban areas and serves as a functional element of public utilities for Weehawken residents.

The Lüneburg Water Tower stands in the southeastern old town and was built between 1905 and 1907 according to plans by architect Otto Lüer in neo-Gothic brick style. With its 184 feet (56 meters) tower spire, this water tower served the municipal water supply and stored up to 132,000 gallons (500 cubic meters) of water in an elevated reservoir. The facade displays typical features of North German Brick Gothic with vertical structural elements and pointed arch openings. After the original function was discontinued in the 1980s, the tower was converted for cultural uses and now houses exhibition spaces and a café with an observation platform.

This water tower in the center of Mariupol was constructed in 1910 according to plans by engineer Pashkov and served the city's water supply until 1953. The 89 foot (27 meter) tall structure built of brick and stone combines functional engineering with decorative elements in the style of early industrial architecture. After its decommissioning, the tower remained as a technical monument documenting the development of urban infrastructure in the early 20th century. The structure survived several historical events before being severely damaged during the fighting in 2022. The old water tower of Mariupol illustrates the technical solutions for water distribution in a port city on the coast of the Sea of Azov.

This water tower at the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank has served as a landmark of the film studio for decades. The structure was originally built to provide water supply for the studio grounds and displays the recognizable Warner Bros. shield with its well-known logo. The tower appears regularly in film and television productions, particularly in the animated series "Animaniacs," where it is portrayed as the home of the main characters. With its white exterior and blue logo, this water tower has become an identifiable symbol of the studio. The facility remains on the active studio grounds in Burbank and represents the history of film production in Southern California.

The Mannheim Water Tower was built between 1886 and 1889 following plans by architect Gustav Halmhuber and ranks among Germany's most important water towers. The 197-foot (60-meter) structure at Friedrichsplatz contains a storage tank with a capacity of 528,000 gallons (2,000 cubic meters). This construction combines technical function with representative architecture in the historicist style, featuring a yellow sandstone facade decorated with columns, reliefs, and ornamental elements. The tower served as an active part of the municipal water supply system until 2000 and is now protected as a historic monument.