Author: Jens U. Schmidt und Günther Bosch

Elevated water tanks, as important structures in a modern water supply system, not only balance fluctuations in demand but also ensure a defined and largely constant water pressure at the taps in the supply area. Where the topography of the terrain precludes the construction of a water tank at a high elevation, water towers take over this function.

Water towers are the passion of our member Jens U. Schmidt, who, together with his co-author Günther Bosch, is publishing a book series about water towers in Germany. The book “Water Towers in Bavaria” has just been published in this series.

On a total of 304 pages, Jens U. Schmidt and Günther Bosch present 334 water towers in Bavaria. They describe a wide variety of designs and uses. Of particular interest are the uses of water towers after they have been decommissioned, which may also have a religious connection.

This book series has so far included documentation from the following federal states and regions: Bavaria, Bremen and Hamburg, Berlin, Baden-Württemberg, Northwestern Germany, and Schleswig-Holstein. Documentation for Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland is in preparation. Further details can be found on the German Water Tower Archives website.