Development of design form of reinforced concrete water towers

Abstract

This paper looks at the development of design form of reinforced concrete (RC) water towers in Britain and Ireland where free-standing towers have been used since the nineteenth century. Although brick was used up to the 1930s, after 1900 RC became common. Following a brief look at early designs, the paper goes on to discuss various aspects of water tower development, including multi-legged designs, solid-sided towers, shafts with fins, single-stem towers. It concludes with a comment on recent developments.