Des Moines Water Towers (West Des Moines, Urbandale: house, construction, middle school)

[Persimmony]

Where are the water towers in Des Moines proper? You see all of the water towers going up in places like West Des Moines, Urbandale, & Ankeny ... but you never see huge water towers that say "DES MOINES." Or do they just have those type of water towers that look like tanks closer to the ground...? Anyone know about this? Was thinking about it today on the interstate.

[QuadCityImages]

Any place that puts their name on a water tower loses the right to be called a city, and must be referred to as a "town."

[Persimmony]

Originally Posted by QuadCityImages

Any place that puts their name on a water tower loses the right to be called a city, and must be referred to as a "town."

Didn't answer the question really .... and ok that means Fort Worth, TX is not a city because they have them everywhere. someone smart from OUR part of the state actually answer.

[El Rhino]

There's one on the corner of Indianola and Park Ave, right across from Weeks Middle School. I guess it's the "Wilchinski Water Tower" or something like that.

[SharpHawkeye]

I remember that water tower! We used to be able to see it from our house on SE 5th.

[DMRyan]

There are actually 3 of these large standpipes around in the city. They don't really stand hundreds of feet above the ground but are huge tanks that hold gobs of water. Not sure if there are water pressure needs around Des Moines that warrant future construction of water towers similar to what you would see in the suburbs.

[mofford]

I like the one on Hickman in the beaverdale area at about 48th st....it's got legs. I check it out when I get within the gravitational pull of George the Chili King for a tenderloin, then eat it over at the park near the tower. The park provides a nicer view for dining than anything the Chilli King has to offer.

[DMRyan]

Yeah, that area around George the Chilli King is pretty dismal. That park with the water tower on legs is generically called Tower Park.

[Chicago60614]

The larger a city the less chance it's using water towers. They work great for smaller towns and cities, but if you have 250,000 people, you're going to need a LOT more towers going up everywhere to handle a decent supply of water at a constant pressure.

Most larger places have pumps that supply the city at a constant pressure. It's more expensive initially, but after awhile it end up being cost effective compared to building and maintaining 20 tall water towers. Most municipalities will have pumps that can supply water up to around the 6th floor. Above that, each building has water tanks on the roof that supply constant water/pressure to taller buildings.

I'm in Chicago, and basically every single building downtown is actually a water tower. They're normally hidden away on the roof, or covered in decorative things like pyramids or "fake" penthouse floors.

Hence the shape of 801 Grand's top...

[Persimmony]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

The larger a city the less chance it's using water towers. They work great for smaller towns and cities, but if you have 250,000 people, you're going to need a LOT more towers going up everywhere to handle a decent supply of water at a constant pressure.

Most larger places have pumps that supply the city at a constant pressure. It's more expensive initially, but after awhile it end up being cost effective compared to building and maintaining 20 tall water towers. Most municipalities will have pumps that can supply water up to around the 6th floor. Above that, each building has water tanks on the roof that supply constant water/pressure to taller buildings.

I'm in Chicago, and basically every single building downtown is actually a water tower. They're normally hidden away on the roof, or covered in decorative things like pyramids or "fake" penthouse floors.

Hence the shape of 801 Grand's top...

Very interesting point Chi.