Water Reservoirs Tanks & Towers

In Clackamas and Washington Counties water reservoirs are a familiar sight, often constructed on hills or supported in steel tanks on towers. These reservoirs provide storage for treated water before it is distributed to homes and businesses throughout CRWP communities.

Typically the volume of water stored in these towers or reservoirs is equal to the community’s average water demand for a single day. When water demand exceeds the average daily demand, water flows from the reservoirs into the distribution system. When water demand is low pumps refill the reservoirs.

Water reservoirs and tanks are elevated or found at high points in a water distribution system to provide adequate water system pressures. They rely on hydrostatic pressure produced by elevation (due to gravity) to push the water into the water distribution system. Each foot of height provides 0.43 PSI (pounds per square Inch) of pressure.

Water stored in reservoirs is also gives us the ability to respond to emergencies such fires, power blackouts, and pump station failures.