How Potable Water Rises to the Top of Skyscrapers

In the 1950’s, pneumatic pressure tank systems replaced many roof tank systems. These systems put the pneumatic tank inside the building, eliminating the pigeon problem. The pumping equipment pumped water to the pneumatic
tank pressurized by an air compressor that supplied water to the floors. The systems, for the most part, worked well if properly maintained, but required large areas for equipment installation and were expensive to install. In addition, these systems were big consumers of energy given they ran at a constant speed, despite low demand periods where water is hardly used.

The Present Today, water pressure systems, or booster systems, have come a long way since the early days of pigeon-infested roof tanks. Now building owners have many control and pumping options that solve any pumping application while saving on energy costs and space. Booster systems, such as the one marketed by Metropolitan Industries in Romeoville, now come prefabricated and skid-mounted, which allows for ease of installation and provides many design solutions to meet constrictive space requirements. Building owners can now choose from state-of-the-art variable speed control, which cuts energy bills in half over the life of the system while increasing system life by years. Other advances in technology include touch-screen panels
allowing operators to make system adjustments with the touch of a finger, ability to interface into existing building automation systems and “smart pump technology” that allows booster systems to continually self-diagnose itself and alert the operator to any problems.

Thanks to: Mark Brickey, Paul Larson, P.E. & Joseph Sanchez of Metropolitan Industries

 

How Potable Water Rises to the Top of Skyscrapers

By Mark Brickey, Paul Larson, P.E. & Joseph Sanchez of Metropolitan Industries (Information compiled by Gunnar Collins, IPP, FASSE, Collins Backflow Specialists, Inc.)