Wasserturm Essen-Steele, Water tower in Steele district, Germany

Wasserturm Essen-Steele is a round, three-story brick tower topped by a visible steel water tank holding 1,000 cubic meters. The brick shaft ends in a round-arch frieze in Historicist style, while the tank, built on the Intze principle, shows early technical functionalism. Since a 1986–1988 restoration, the tank has window openings and the tower offers about 600 square meters of usable space.

The tower was built in 1898 after coal mining lowered the groundwater and the 1871 reservoir on the Laurentiusberg could no longer meet demand. A steam-powered pump works near the former Steele Süd station fed it, and from 1 May 1898 it supplied Steele plus Frillendorf, Schonnebeck and Stoppenberg. It became redundant in 1984 and was sold to the Kalenborn company.

The tower's brick shaft ends in a round-arch frieze in the Historicism style, while the steel tank built on the Intze principle already shows technical functionalism. From 1988 the converted interior offered around 600 square metres for exhibitions and offices; a gallery occupied the tower until 2006, and since late 2006 a software company has used it.

The site is easily accessible on foot from surrounding streets and visible from multiple vantage points in the area. Keep in mind that upper levels are not open to the public since the tower now serves as commercial space.

The structure sits at the highest geographical point in Steele, which allowed water to flow to neighboring districts through gravity alone. This natural advantage meant pumping systems were unnecessary and made the supply network highly efficient.