The Nogata water tower loomed over the residential area as if it were glaring at us

Nogata water tower towering over a residential area

The tower suddenly appears in a nondescript residential area of Ekoda. Standing out from the surrounding buildings, the concrete tower looks like a watchtower that monitors the movements of residents in the neighborhood, or an astronomical observatory. It is a curious structure. Whatever its identity, it stands out from the surrounding houses and radiates a strange atmosphere.

This strange structure is a water distribution tower built in 1929 and used until 1966. It is a tank that was built to ensure a stable and safe water supply to the northwestern part of Tokyo's 23 wards. Sufficient water pressure is necessary to ensure a stable and safe water supply, and if water pressure is insufficient, the water may not reach the upper floors of the building or maybe contaminated by microorganisms, sand, fertilizers, or poisons contained in the groundwater. This is why these water distribution towers were built to provide water pressure to the water pipes using gravity.

Knowing the reasons why water distribution towers are built, they seem to be an indispensable facility for urban life. However, when walking through a residential area in Tokyo, one rarely sees such a water tower. The fact that water pressure is still necessary for supplying water should not have changed. I wondered why, and was told that the role played by water distribution towers has now been replaced by pumps. No wonder I don't see water distribution towers anymore.

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