Why New York City Still Uses Wooden Water Towers - Cheddar Explains 

"It would be sad to see water towers leave the skyline"-says the owner of the water tower company

You neglected to mention that many of them are actually NOT inspected and filthy.

One big point you missed is wooden tanks are assembled on the rooftop. The materials are brought up in elevators or smaller cranes. Steel tanks require much bigger cranes and with that much higher city permit cost.

New York still has a steam grid in parts of the city supplying steam as an energy supply like electricity or gas. It doesn't surprise me that it still has 19th century wooden water tanks.

So about these tanks at 3:23 they say that “many are older than 30 years”, but in 3:53 a tank “needs to be replaced every 30 to 35 years”. I’m surprised this was not addressed.

5:05 Translation: Yeah, I literally make living from them, so as long as you belive they are special I don't need to worry about money

Of course if I’m making money from selling wooden water tanks, I’d say they are the best thing since sliced break as well. 🤷🏻‍♂️

When I was doing my Plumbing apprenticeship in the 1960's in Melbourne Australia the authorities were fasing out water tanks on buildings throughout the city, they were mainly used in buildings to flush the toilets if the water supply was temporarily cut off, but as the water supply got better and pumps got better, the tanks were done away with.

because they’re cheaper than metal ones. there, saved you 5 minutes

I thought it was because comic books deemed it so.

This is so poorly researched it feels like promotional material...

Answer starts at 3:20 ends by 3:47 In short wood is cheaper to use.

"It would be sad for the tanks to go." Says the guy who makes money off of them. Lol

This video didn't answer the question at all. Obviously wooden water towers supply water but the question is why does New York use wooden water towers while most other cities don't?

"Inspected annually" ROTFLMAO !!!!!

Them: Wooden tanks must not be painted *proceeds unto showing painted tanks*

Coming from Germany this seems so akward. Of course in Germany there are far less high buildings but most of them have pump systems spread across their height in order to supply a water pressure that is high enough in every single floor. The only kind of water tank in German buildings that I am aware of are for storing heated water. (Edited)

- Be a youtube channel - Talks about water tanks in New York - Uses a map of Paris at 1:22 - > Jeograffi stonks

Whenever I see any unusual endemic infrastructure I always wonder “Why only here?” And this video didn’t answer that question. So, they’re good, and cheap, and provide insulation. There are millions of candidate buildings around the world. Why only New York?

4:02 How much less frequently?

Is it just me or this is only an American thing?

In my country Perú, we use plastic 3-4 layer water tanks ranging from 750-2500 liters they cost $100-300 new and last 30 years to lifetime. 60k for a wooden tower that last 30 years max is just a scam.

The crappy thing about this video was it explained in “modern” times how it works with electronic sensors. This tells me nothing! How did it work originally?

I find the wooden water towers aesthetically appealing in our skyline. I love them being a part of our visual landscape. I live in New York City for over 2 decades and I drink and cook from tap water. I am healthy, happy and vibrant. Life is a mini vacation. Take it Easy and Have some Fun!

Sailing ships used wooden tanks to hold fresh water. Only the water wasn’t fresh for long. All sorts of bacteria and crud grows inside wooden tanks making water unpalatable. That’s why ships after the industrial revolution installed metal tanks. Wood is a strange choice for a modern industrial city.

Narrator says the water is used for 'water suppression', when she meant 'fire suppression'.

_"1800's epidemic that killed 3000 people."_ Corona: *_Are you kidding? That's insultingly low._*

Very interesting. I live in Chicago , we have them everywhere too. I always wondered what they were for. I like the old fashioned look they give a city. I also thought they were to help put out a fire if the building goes up in flames. Thanks, very insightful.

Tbh its weird to see the water tanks on the roofs lol, where i live all buildings have their tanks covered with continuations of the buildings so you cant really see the tank.

Why is the blue background a map of Paris? We don't have water towers here...

As a Kid in the 40,s we would clime up and swim in one in Astoria N. Y.

everything this guy says sounds like bs...

Since they all still use pumps these towers are basically buffers for peak consumption.

Did anyone notice the water towers behind the guy talking?

So now every time I see one of the many wooden tanks I can see from my window in Manhattan I shall envisage a barrel of Cote du Rhone fermenting into it's full magnificence. I like New York water anyway but now it will taste all the more complex and rewarding!

Tanks are used because they provide water pressure. The amount of pressure is reletive to the height of the tank. It's easier to use a pump to fill a tank and have the tank provide pressure than have a pump running full time to create pressure

Why does cheddar use a map of paris for all their backgrounds?

I imagine a wooden tank, which consists of pieces, could be carried up stairwells to the roof for installation in the days before modern cranes (and the days of ample strong backs). Or at least hoisted in pieces manually from the roof. This would hold true in modern times for tall buildings not easily serviced by ground crane.

What is the quality of this water? Is it actually drinkable? I can't imagine that this water is clean.

In Brazil we use Polyethylene boxes in small buildings and Concrete or metal towers in the bigger ones.

wooden water towers are inexpensive, and relatively easy to replace. metal water towers are more likely to rust and cost more to maintain.

I’ll save your time. The wooden water tanks are cheaper, better insulated, and in more demand than the steel water tanks.

Having a Map of Paris as a background of a show about NYC #priceless

Great story. When I was in my early 20's I worked in Miami for a company that would repair the steel legs of wooden water tanks on high buildings. Thank you for the video.

Collect pond was on the site of NY Public Library. It was replaced with a reservoir. Part of the foundation of the reservoir can be seen in the Library. With the pressure tunnels, the water can go up to the 22nd story without pumping. The six stories cited must be from before the pressure tunnels.

It is interesting that the vertical boards are not glued but stacked side by side, held by the metal rings. The water makes the wood expand and keeping it sealed (another reason why you don't paint the outside)

It would've been nice if they actually told why they're wooden. I'm from Argentina and we usually use the same, but made out of plastic (which is really cheaper than both wood and metal). So, telling that wooden are cheaper than metal ones, doesn't really explain why they choose wood. I would like to know why, because I'm really surprised about the wood.

3:26 that’s me right now. I’m only 25 but I already feel old.

Last time I was this early New York residents were still using the Collect Pond

Ok calm down buddy with the whole comparing ugly wooden cylinders to the Empire State Building 🤣 5:09

The best answer is to watch Mike Rowe on Dirtiest Jobs. They are more popular, due to the ease of removal of old tank and installation of new tank and is typically done in one day. Very quick and efficient. Landlords will always go for the least expensive option if they can.

I remember as a kid in the 70s climbing up the ladder to the water tower in our 22 story buiding overlooking Washington Square Park, it has as I remember- a 22,000 gallon wood water tower, the thing was like a swimming pool up there it was so big. Another building I lived in later had a small one on the roof, and I remember the little access door on it's top was wide open and pigeons were roosting in the cone portion, most people have no idea those tanks sit basically wide open/unsecured, and if the wind blows the access door open, birds and rodents can get in and contaminate the water below. As I remember the wood they were made from was cedar

The only reason I know about these water tanks and the rosenwach company is thanks to this video and an episode of Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe.

Let me save you some time : 3:11 - 4:35.

Because it's the only way spiderman can peacefully drink water without no one bothering him

This is how they used to do it in England. It's why older English houses have water tanks in their attics...their older water system can't handle modern water pressure.

Think I saw a video on tank inspections where there’s gross bacteria that grows in these tanks when they aren’t maintained properly

2:38 “. . . you see the city skyline pinpointed with water tanks throughout the skyline” Wow this is such a beautiful sentence

The real reason it's still around is because there are only 2 companies in NYC who make, install and maintain those towers. Both are union companies and both hold monopoly on the market.

In Mauritius we use fiberglass tank called reservoir. 2 brands supply those tanks namely Resiglass and Duraco.

Thank you for not asking us to subscribe in the middle of the video. I appreciate it, truly.

3:10. "For drinking, bathing, and water suppression" Water for water suppression? Pretty sure you mean fire suppression haha

The main reason for the water towers are water pressure. The pressure you need would blow apart the plumbing. By pumping it into a tank on the roof gives a great amount of pressure you need if you lived on the upper and top floors.

Water towers are on top of the buildings. It would take a big crane or a helicopter to move one to those location, so they are built onsite by crews of experienced craftsmen and only when necessary. Wooden tanks actually outlast metal tanks because they don't corrode, rust or develop leaks as readily as metal. New Yorkers also like running water - well, some of them, anyway.

So iconic indeed that there is a scene in the animated movie An American Tail, where Fievel sang Somewhere Out There on top of the tower, before resting on a floating basket turned as a bed, inside the water tank.

Some wonder why not just pump water. One big reason is that there is a large demand for water in the morning, with people getting up, showering, making breakfast, brushing teeth, etc. getting ready for work, millions of people at once. Huge demand that the underground system could not supply. So, the tanks supply a 'buffer', in that they are filled up slowly during the night and day, and can empty themselves fast in the mornings. Another advantage is that gravity works 24x7x365, meaning that if the power fails, or the pump breaks, you still have flowing water (I believe the tanks are generally sized to supply more than a days needs). Lastly, because they do not have to pressurize the water system, the pumps can be smaller, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly.All-in-all, a great system.

Once the tank is filled the wood swells and seals itself up. Years ago when farmers started using silage for feeding cattle, the first silos were made out of cypress trees. It would resist rotting. On a dairy farm that I worked on there was a wood silo that was removed in the 1950s and nailed down over the original floor above the cow stable to prevent dust and dirt from coming down on the cows during milking. There were 16 stanchions in the bottom of that barn. The best way to maintain the old wooden silos was to fill them frequently to keep the wood moist.

Brazil usually uses fiber glass tanks... never need to be replaced... and is very cheep, but we also doesn't have freezing winters.

Where I come from people use plastic tanks

60 grand someone is getting ripped off

Videos like this are time buyer.... just explain direct to the point.

The tanks were originally wooden in that they were difficult to install not having a crane easily to set next to where they tanks had to be lifted or installed, also at that era of time, only cast steel was available (early to middle 1800's) and old rust readily both inside and outside so wooden made great sense, so either manual labor carried up each wall/roof plank on interior staircases or after elevators were installed they were then used, as 99% off the wooden tanks the lumber used had to be shorter that the diagonal cross distance of the elevator cab or part of the elevator cab roof had to be opened to allow for longer lumber lengths to be used. We uses to install wooden AC cooling towers for the exact same reason, as smaller wooden parts/pieces weighed much less than a completed installation plus no crane cost and the elevators were not compromised by the minimal weight going to the top numerous times in pieces. The largest piece being the cylindrical tension hoop bands on the water towers that hold the completed round tanks together. Sometimes a larger squat tank had to be utilized and then the tension bands were either 2 piece or 3 piece type bands. The stands/towers to hold the water tower tanks were also bolted together units for the same reason, smaller lighter pieces carried to the top, then assembled/bolted together. Believe it or not, tying down the tower to the roof was the greatest installation problem, as once installed, the towers are like great sails in the wind and will turnover due to the wind lateral loading, hence the need for the tower/tank to be attached to the building substructure very securely.

Excellent video. Very interesting. Keep producing this kind of content guys!

Imagine the amount of dead rats and bacteria in those tanks

One question: some time ago I asked an American friend why do American houses don't have water tanks. I live in Brazil and every house here has a water tank (typically 1000L, or 265 gallons) in the attic or over the roof, it's convenient during shortages and it maintains good water pressure for the shower and other appliances. He said to me it was because during winter water could freeze and it was a convincing answer at the time. But now, after this video, I'm wondering... New York has these enormous water tanks on its buildings, so... How doesn't it freeze during winter? Oh... And another question: why wood or steel instead of plastic or fiberglass water tanks? Plastic tanks, for example, aren't so expensive as wood or steel ones, and it can be easily cleaned and they are less heavy for the building, it has practically only the weight of the water.

That pressure control makes a lot of sense, especially in summer and late winter when the water tank will have to expand and contract wood is better at doing that and is lighter than steel. Even if steel becomes more affordable I can't imagine it replacing a pre war buildings water supply

I always though that they were just really rusted steel towers lol

this dude really doesn't have a way with words "that's why you now see the city skyline pinpointed with water tanks.. uh throughout the skyline"

Very interesting video. But it prompts as many questions as it answers, as many of the comments show. I would like to see another video on the topic that addresses the questions raised by this video. (Like why don’t most cities have water towers on their buildings like NYC.)

Show me the wooden tanks on the Empire Stàte building, the Chrysler building and One Word Trade Center

Hey, I can still barely hear what you are saying. You need to make the annoying background music even louder!

Real video starts at 3:00

Got it as long as the wooden water tanks are the best financial option I should expect for them to go somewhere sometime soon

Is it just me or does mutant ninja turtles come into mind when thinking of wooden water towers and New York 😂

1:47 I live just a few miles from that!

Rip Kakyoin

This video is the definition of a phone call that could've been an email !!

Also, wooden water towers swell up slightly and help seal the water in.

So why don't other cities have wooden water tanks?

This video makes me thirsty

Aaah, now i get it. No wonder you guy's don't drink tap water !! Peace from Amsterdam !

To those that complain about Cheddar videos, just remember that Cheddar is simply a marketing and promotion company, not a documentary film maker. They don't have the time or desire to do any research - they simply regurgitate marketing press releases with random stock pictures and videos thrown in, often with absolutely no connection or relevance to the subject being discussed, for example the map of Paris used in this video. As a bonus, to show how little they care, they often throw in a bunch of contradictory or non-sensical statements into most of their videos, such as the statement about the water towers needing to be replaced after 30 years along with the statement that many of the wooden water towers are older than 30 years.

A plastic tank would be far safer than a porous, damp, dark wooden one. Has everyone already forgotten about the legionaries outbreak?

5:10 lol comparing them to the empire state building. I literally never even knew they existed

1:27 1832: Epedemic that killed 3500 people ... 2020: Covid-19 laughs

Its wooden so when one falls you fell like a star in a movie 😂😂

This was actually pretty neat to learn about!

Always "thought" they were wood over steel. Live and learn.

Everywhere else we do municipal water pumps, towers and heating. Quite backwater method of having one for each building.

Very interesting video, I love little information tidbits like this one! 👍🏻👍🏻