Roof Water Tanks Nyc

This system may be old but it sure is reliable.

Roof water tanks nyc.

When construction started to grow taller the city required that buildings with six or more stories be equipped with a rooftop tank with a pump. The tanks hold about 10 000 gallons of water 37 854 liters with a reserve for emergency use. In buildings with more than six floors pumps push water to rooftop tanks where the water is stored until needed. A rooftop water tower is a variant of a water tower consisting of a water container placed on the roof of a tall building.

As you look up to the rooftops to marvel at this simple yet green part of new york city s past and present with more appreciation you will start seeing them everywhere. It s a simple concept that has little changed throughout the century. Although they often look defunct water tanks are still an essential part of the city s day to day needs. As building height increases the vertical height of its plumbing also increases.

About 15 000 buildings still use this system today. Rooftop drinking water tank inspection results the new york city health code requires that rooftop drinking water storage tanks be inspected annually by building owners and that the inspection results be reported to the health department. Owners of buildings that use tanks to store or pressurize the building s drinking water must have the tanks inspected at least once per year. But these overlooked structures are an essential part of many buildings plumbing systems providing water not only for daily use but also for fire suppressing sprinkler systems.

Rooftop water tanks are such a common sight atop new york city s residential buildings that they often blend right into the cityscape. The original purpose of roof tanks was to supply drinking and bathing water to people living above the sixth floor says david hochhauser who along with his brother and sister owns isseks brothers a tank servicing company based in lower manhattan. New york wood tank specializes in the repair maintenance and replacement of wood rooftop water tanks for potable water fire reserve systems. About 5 000 to 10 000 gallons of water can be.

This structure supplies water pressure to floors at higher elevation than public water towers. Building owners report inspection findings by completing a questionnaire provided by the health department. Tanks for the memories. Water tanks still serve a function like many of the fixtures within new york city s infrastructure many of us see water tanks dotting rooftops but have little idea of their specific uses and upkeep.