Coopers, or barrel makers, have a busy sideline business in New York City. The Big Apples skyline is dotted with what appear to be miniature grain silos on stilts. Other metropolitan areas tend to rely on electric pumps to supply water to their skyscrapers, but New York City is not any other metro area. It started its phenomenal growth shortly after the Civil War; with limited land area, the only way to go was up. As the buildings got taller, they grew faster than the citys underground plumbing system, and it became apparent that the available water pressure was insufficient for anything over six stories. Gravity to the rescue! Rooftop tanks are fed from the citys pipes, and hold five to 10,000 gallons of water. About half of the water is tapped for everyday use, while the rest is saved to fight fires. Some buildings use steel tanks, but steel is more expensive and requires more maintenance than the traditional wooden tank. Wood remains the material of choice for New Yorks water tanks; experienced coopers construct them in a few hours by hammering planks into place. Once the tanks are filled, the water causes the wood to swell, and the gaps between the planks are sealed. Wood is also an excellent insulator, keeping the water warm in winter and cool in the summer.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 02:33:49 +0000
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