The Union Watersphere, also known as the Union Water Tower, is a

water tower A water tower is an elevated structure supporting a water tank constructed at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system, distribution system for potable water, and to provide emergency storage for fire protection. Water towe ...

topped with a sphere-shaped

water tank A water tank is a container for Water storage, storing water, for many applications, drinking water, irrigation, fire suppression, farming, both for plants and livestock, chemical manufacturing, food preparation as well as many other uses. Water ...

in Union, New Jersey, United States and characterized as the ''World's Tallest Water Sphere''. Adjacent to

U.S. Route 22 U.S. Route 22 (US 22) is a major east–west route and one of the original United States Numbered Highways, founded in 1926. It runs from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jer ...

, New Jersey Route 82, and the

Garden State Parkway The Garden State Parkway (GSP) is a Controlled-access highway, controlled-access toll road that stretches the north–south length of eastern New Jersey from the state's southernmost tip near Cape May, New Jersey, Cape May north to the New York ...

, 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. Standing tall, it was originally built in 1964 by

Chicago Bridge and Iron Company Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 census, it is the third-most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los ...

at the cost of $89,500 and holds of well water. Due to its proximity to an airport, at the request of the

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...

, a red stroboscopic beacon was constructed atop the tower in 2008, adding of height. The pedestal is used as a

telecommunications tower Radio masts and towers are typically tall structures designed to support antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. There are two main types: guyed and self-supporting structures. They are among the tallest human-m ...

. 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. Its location at a major intersection of some of the state's busiest roads, and proximity to

Newark Liberty International Airport Newark Liberty International Airport is a major international airport serving the New York metropolitan area. The airport straddles the boundary between the cities of Newark, New Jersey, Newark in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County and E ...

, affords millions of people each year a view of the structure. A museum dedicated to the watersphere is located in

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

and is operated by a former Union resident. Another famous sphere, sometimes called the world's largest light bulb, is located nearby at the Edison Memorial Tower.

Related and similar structures

A February 2012 ''Star Ledger'' article suggested a water tower in

Erwin, North Carolina Erwin is a town that is located in the eastern part of Harnett County, North Carolina, United States, located approximately from Dunn and approximately from Fayetteville. The city is a part of the Dunn, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, whic ...

completed in early 2012, tall and holding , had become the World's Tallest Water Sphere. However photographs of the Erwin water tower revealed the new tower to be a water spheroid. The water tower in Braman, Oklahoma, built by the

Kaw Nation The Kaw Nation (or Kanza or Kansa) is a federally recognized Native American tribe in Oklahoma and parts of Kansas. The Kaw people historically lived in the central Midwestern United States. They have also been called the "People of the Sou ...

and completed in 2010, is tall and can hold . Slightly taller than the Union Watersphere, it is technically a spheroid. Another tower in Oklahoma, built in 1986 and billed as the largest water tower in the country, is tall, can hold , and is located in Edmond. The ''Earthoid'', a nearly spherical tank located in

Germantown, Maryland Germantown is an urbanized census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. With a population of 91,249 as of the 2020 census, it is the third-most populous community in Maryland, after Baltimore and Columbia, Maryland, Col ...

is tall and holds gallons of water. The name is taken from it being painted to resemble a globe of the world. The golf ball-shaped tank of the water tower at

Gonzales, California Gonzales is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. Gonzales is located southeast of Salinas, at an elevation of . The population was 8,647 at the 2020 census, up from 8,187 at the 2010 census. Gonzales is a member of the Ass ...

is supported by three tubular legs and reaches about high. The Watertoren (or Water Towers) in

Eindhoven Eindhoven ( ; ) is a city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality of the Netherlands, located in the southern Provinces of the Netherlands, province of North Brabant, of which it is the largest municipality, and is also locat ...

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

contain three spherical tanks, each in diameter and capable of holding of water, on three spires were completed in 1970.

References

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External links

Wikimapia Union-WatersphereWorld's Tallest WatersphereLost in Jersey Union Watersphere
Water towers in New Jersey Buildings and structures in Union County, New Jersey Tourist attractions in Union County, New Jersey Infrastructure completed in 1964 Towers completed in 1964 Roadside attractions in New Jersey Union Township, Union County, New Jersey 1964 establishments in New Jersey

Related and similar structures

See also

References

External links