A Giant Mushroom Traditional Cache

Most water systems are very reliable, and water towers play an important role in providing that reliability.

Although water towers come in all shapes and sizes, they all do the same thing: A water tower is simply a large, elevated tank of water.

A water tower serves as a reservoir to help with water needs during peak usage times. The water level in the tower typically falls during the peak usage hours of the day, then a pump fills it back up during the night.

While a water tower is an incredibly simple device they are able to supply water even during power cuts because they rely on gravity produced by elevation of water. Each foot of height provides 0.43 PSI (pounds per square Inch) of pressure. A typical municipal water supply runs at between 50 and 100 PSI (major appliances require at least 20 to 30 PSI). The water tower must be tall enough to supply that level of pressure to all of the houses and businesses in the area of the tower.

The mushroom shaped tower at East Carleton was built around 1958. The height of the tower roof slab being approximately 28 metres (92 ft) above ground. The water level when the tower is full is 22.4 metres (73.5 ft), and the volume, when full is 0.67 Ml (approximately 147,380 imp.gal).

The tower is supplied by Little Melton water treatment works and serves just over 4,000 private and commercial customers.