Water - Its Rise and Fall

Road Dog · #1 Posted **Dec 27, 2008, 6:06 PM**

A Forum newbie here. How was water supplied to (and drained from) skyscrapers or proto-skyscrapers in Manhattan before, say, 1940? Were water tanks used, and, if so, up to what height, and how was pressure maintained at the upper stories? My special interest centers on the apartment buildings of Emery Roth (San Remo, Beresford, Normandy, etc.), and I have always wondered whether the towers atop these structures actually housed water tanks. I will look forward to responses and to a better New Year!

Kelvin · #2 Posted **Dec 31, 2008, 12:09 AM**

I believe the NYC building code requires that each building (over a given height) is required to have a supply of water on the roof to aid in emergency fire protection. To get the water into the tank it would have to be pumped but obviously it can drain under gravity. The water in these tanks are also for the day to day usage of the residents/occupants.

http://aaeanewyork.blogspot.com/2008...ter-tanks.html

Road Dog · #3 Posted **Jan 26, 2009, 5:53 PM**

Thanks, Kelvin. I appreciate your reply.