Union Watersphere
{{Infobox building
| name = Union Watersphere
| former_names =
| alternate_names = Union Water Tower
| status =
| image = Watersphere.JPG
| image_alt = A tall metal pole with metallic rings around it and a ball-like structure at the top, seen from a nearby wooded area
| caption = At one time painted blue, the watersphere is a greyish white and emblazoned with UNION
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| building_type = Water tower
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| cost = $89,500
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| location =
| address =
| location_town = Union, New Jersey
| location_country = United States
| coordinates = {{coord|40.693274|-74.262046|type:city_region:US|display=inline,title}}
| groundbreaking_date =
| start_date = {{Start date|1964}}
| completion_date =
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| height = {{convert|212|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| diameter =
| website = http://www.worldstallestwatersphere.com/
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}}
The Union Watersphere, also known as the Union Water Tower, is a water tower topped with a sphere-shaped water tank in Union, New Jersey, United States{{Citation | last = Westerggaard | first = Barbara | title = New Jersey A guide to the state | publisher = Rutgers University Press | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ww7BJbdR4lEC&pg=PA366 | isbn = 0-8135-3685-5 }} and characterized as the World's Tallest Water Sphere.{{citation | last = Rose | first = Lisa | title = Despite challenge, Union Township water tower remains a Jersey landmark | newspaper = The Star-Ledger | date = February 22, 2012 | url = http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/despite_challenge_union_townsh.html | access-date = 2012-02-21 }}
Adjacent to U.S. Route 22, New Jersey Route 82, and the Garden State Parkway, the iconic tower has been a landmark since its construction. The tower was originally commissioned the Elizabethtown Water Company and is now owned by American Water.{{cite web | title = The Monument vs. The World's Tallest Water Sphere | publisher = An Englishman in New Jersey | date = February 21, 2009 | url = http://englishmannj.blogspot.com/2009/02/monument-vs-worlds-tallest-water-sphere.html | access-date = 2012-02-24}} Standing {{convert|212|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall, it was originally built in 1964 by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company at the cost of $89,500 and holds {{convert|250000|gal|L}} of well water. Due to its proximity to an airport, at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration, a red stroboscopic beacon was constructed atop the tower in 2008, adding {{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on}} of height.{{cite web | title = Frequently Asked Questions | work = World's Tallest Water Sphere | publisher = worldstallestwatersphere.com/ | date = August 5, 2006 | url = http://www.worldstallestwatersphere.com/?p=33 | access-date = 2012-02-22}} The pedestal is used as a telecommunications tower.{{cite web | last = Freak | first = Flag | title = Water Sphere Union, NJ | publisher = sketchup.google.com | date = April 27, 2008 | url = http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=a5618349d97ff29ec5c66cd967f08d27 | access-date = 2012-12-24}}
The tower is painted a grey-white. In the past it has been painted blue with the name of the town in large letters across the sphere.{{cite web | last = Becker | first = Dan | title = World's Tallest Water Sphere Union, NJ | publisher = www.danbecker.info | year = 2005 | url = http://www.danbecker.info/other/WTWS/WorldsTallestWaterSphere.html | access-date = 2012-02-24 }} Its location at a major intersection of some of the state's busiest roads, and proximity to Newark Liberty International Airport, affords millions of people each year a view of the structure. A museum dedicated to the watersphere is located in Austin, Texas and is operated by a former Union resident.{{citation | title = Towering Achievement | magazine = Weird NJ (#32) | year = 2009 | url = http://www.worldstallestwatersphere.com/?p=205 | access-date = 2012-02-22 }}
{{citation
| last = Donohue
| first = Brian
| title = Ledger Live: Union tower stands as world's tallest water sphere
| newspaper = The Star-Ledger
| date = January 15, 2009
| url = http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/ledger_live_union_tower_stands.html
| access-date = 2012-02-22
}} Another famous sphere, sometimes called the world's largest light bulb, is located nearby at the Edison Memorial Tower.{{cite web | last = Rawlings | first = Nate | title = World's Largest Light Bulb; Edison, NJ | work = Top 50 American Roadside Attractions | publisher = TIME | date = July 28, 2010 | url = https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2006404_2006691_2006024,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100731205902/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2006404_2006691_2006024,00.html | url-status = live | archive-date = July 31, 2010 | access-date = 2012-02-24 }}{{cite web | title = World's Largest Light Bulb | publisher = www.roadsideamerica.com | url = http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11143 | access-date = 2012-02-23}}
Related and similar structures
A February 2012 Star Ledger article suggested a water tower in Erwin, North Carolina completed in early 2012, {{convert|219.75|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall and holding {{convert|500000|gal|m3}},{{cite web | last = Philliops | first = Gregor | title = Erwin's new water tower will be among tallest on East Coast | publisher = The Fayetteville Observer | date = 11 May 2011 | url = http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/05/14/1093639 | access-date = 2012-02-25}} had become the World's Tallest Water Sphere. However photographs of the Erwin water tower revealed the new tower to be a water spheroid.{{cite web|title=World's Tallest Water Sphere Title Safe for Now|url=http://www.worldstallestwatersphere.com/?p=373|access-date=2012-08-20}}
The water tower in Braman, Oklahoma, built by the Kaw Nation and completed in 2010, is {{convert|220.6|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall and can hold {{convert|350000|gal|m3}}.{{cite web | title = Water Tower - Braman, Oklahoma | publisher = www.waymarking.com | url = http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMA1DP_Water_Tower_Braman_Oklahoma | access-date = 2012-02-22}} Slightly taller than the Union Watersphere, it is technically a spheroid.{{cite web | title = World's Tallest Water Sphere? | publisher = www.worldstallestwatersphere.com | date = December 22, 2010 | url = http://www.worldstallestwatersphere.com/?p=298 | access-date = 2012-02-22}} Another tower in Oklahoma, built in 1986 and billed as the largest water tower in the country, is {{convert|218|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall, can hold {{convert|500000|gal|m3}}, and is located in Edmond.{{cite web | title = Edmond Huskies | publisher = www.waymarking.com | url = http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6E5 | access-date = 2012-02-22}}{{cite web | title = Largest Water Tower | publisher = Center for Land Use Interpretation | url = http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/OK3128/# | access-date = 2012-02-22}}
The Earthoid, a nearly spherical tank located in Germantown, Maryland is {{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall and holds {{convert|2,000,000|gal|m3}} gallons of water. The name is taken from it being painted to resemble a globe of the world.{{cite web | last = Gaines | first = Danielle | title = Germantown's Earthoid water tower could be up for a makeover WSSC to choose new painted design for tank next month | publisher = Gazette.Net | date = March 2, 2011 | url = http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/03022011/germnew185447_32533.php | access-date = 2012-03-03}}{{cite web | title = "Earthoid" Water Storage Tank - Germantown MD | publisher = Waymarking | date = September 7, 2009 | url = http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7668 | access-date = 2012-03-03}}{{cite web | title = Makeover The Earthoid gets a refresh | publisher = Germantown Patch | url = http://germantown.patch.com/articles/makeover-the-earthoid-water-tower-gets-a-refresh | access-date = 2012-03-03}}{{cite web | title = A whole new world Earthoid water tank makeover up[date | publisher = Germantown Patch | url = http://germantown.patch.com/articles/a-whole-new-world-earthoid-water-tank-makeover-update | access-date = 2012-03-03}}
The golf ball-shaped tank of the water tower at Gonzales, California is supported by three tubular legs and reaches about {{convert|125|ft|m|abbr=on}} high.{{cite web | title = Gonzales Round Municipal Tank | publisher = www.waymarking.com | date = April 22, 2009 | url = http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM68BR_Gonzales_Round_Municipal_Tank_Gonzales_CA | access-date = 2012-02-25}}{{cite web | title = Gonzales Water Tower | publisher = www.waymarking.com | url = http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM14DF_Gonzales_Water_Tower | access-date = 2012-02-25 }}{{cite web | title = Gonzales Water Tower | publisher = Wikimapia | url = http://wikimapia.org/12760743/Gonzales-Water-Tower | access-date = 2012-02-25}} The Watertoren (or Water Towers) in Eindhoven, Netherlands contain three spherical tanks, each {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter and capable of holding {{convert|500|m3|gal}} of water, on three {{convert|43.45|m|ft|abbr=on}} spires were completed in 1970.{{cite web | title = Water Tower Eindhoven | website=www.architectureguide.nl | url = http://www.architectureguide.nl/project/list_projects_of_typeofbuilding/typ_id/28/prj_id/810 | access-date = 2012-02-24}}{{cite web | title = Water Tower |website=mimoa.eu | url = http://mimoa.eu/projects/Netherlands/Eindhoven/Watertower | access-date = 2012-02-24}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|33em}}
External links
- [http://wikimapia.org/3171858/Union-Watersphere Wikimapia Union-Watersphere]
- [http://www.worldstallestwatersphere.com/ World's Tallest Watersphere]
- [http://lostinjersey.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/the-union-watersphere/ Lost in Jersey Union Watersphere]
Category:Water towers in New Jersey
Category:Buildings and structures in Union County, New Jersey
Category:Tourist attractions in Union County, New Jersey
Category:Infrastructure completed in 1964
Category:Towers completed in 1964
Category:Roadside attractions in New Jersey