Groundwater is the world's most extracted raw material with withdrawal rates in the estimated range of 259 trillion gallons per year. It is important that we use our water wisely and not waste it.

-Henry the Water Drop

Henry Says
Henry Says

Fun facts about Kalamazoo's newest water tower:

- Approximately 1.3 miles of 24-inch diameter water main was installed to connect the tower to the distribution system
- 970,000 pounds of steel
- 1092 cubic yards of concrete
- The overflow elevation of the tower is 104 feet
- The Kalamazoo Promise logo has been painted on 2 sides of the tower
- LED lighting is exclusively used

How does the water get from the water tower to my home?

Once groundwater is pumped out of the ground from our 16 municipal water wellfields, the City of Kalamazoo pumps it to treatment facilities where chlorine is added for disinfection, phosphate is added for pipe corrosion control, and fluoride is added for you dental health. From there the treated water is pumped up against gravity (see step 1 of the figure) in the water tower where it is stored (step 2 of the figure). The water is held in the tower until it is needed. Whenever you turn on the tap, take a shower, wash your clothes or have a cool drink of water, the water is delivered through pipes by gravity to your home or facility (step 3 on the figure). The water tower also acts to have enough water available in the event of a large fire. There will be plenty of water for the firefighters to utilize to fight the fire without effecting the quality or pressure at your tap.

Gravity provides the pressure needed to deliver water through underground piping to 11 local governmental jurisdictions. Kalamazoo's newest water tower off Siesta Street services the City of Kalamazoo.

Where do we store the drinking water pumped out of the ground (groundwater)? In 1 of the City of Kalamazoo's 9 water towers.
Have you seen the City of Kalamazoo's new west-side water storage tank located on US-131 near I-94? Our new Siesta Street water tower is in the process of being completed after over 1 year of construction.
It is what they refer to as a composite water tower and will have the capacity to hold 2.5 million gallons (2,500,000 gallons) of drinking water in storage waiting for you at your service!

Water, at your service!!

In order to bring water to the new tower, water main piping had to be installed. The City of Kalamazoo had to bore beneath US-131 highway from the east side of the highway to the location on the west side of the highway to the water tower. The base of the tower is buried underground before construction of the tower begins. The center of the tower is the main construction crane. Once built, the crane will remain a part of the tower. Initially, the top of the tower is built on the ground and then lifted ever so slowly and placed on top. Once complete, the tower will store up to 2,500,000 gallons of SAFE, RELIABLE and QUALITY WATER at your service! Thanks to the City of Kalamazoo - Protect Your Water, Public Services Department, Water Resources Division.