The World's Tallest Water Sphere

Nassau Bahamas Water Tower

Spheroid — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:59:14 +0000

Gina Signorella-Arlen of Union, New Jersey contributes this photo of a water tower in Nassau, Bahamas, taken sometime about early September of 2010.

Gina says, “I thought you’d like to see how
Nassau, Bahamas has handled the ‘clean municipal water supply’ challenge. Not a bad effort, but it lacks the grace and style of our iconic water sphere.”

Indeed. It has a nice form and is prominently displayed. It must be visible from far at sea. However, imagine the impact on the islanders if there were a tall tower with crowning sphere lofted high above the palm trees. People would be navigating the waters to watch the sun and moon align with the tower. The impact on tourism and the local economy would be immense.

Water Tower Inspired Artworks

Spheroid — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:36:11 +0000

Our congratulations go to reader and Austin resident Mike Merritt for his art opening at The Pump Project. The show ‘The Art of Ceramics, Glass, and Steel’ opens this Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 7 p.m..

As you see, Mike makes beautiful sculptures and artwork, often inspired by water towers. This particular piece ‘Agent Water Tower Vase’ has several design features that possibly might be inspired by the World’s Tallest Water Sphere. Note the spherical container. Note the light blue color scheme. It’s beautiful.

WTWS Inspires Artist

Spheroid — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:10:56 +0000

Mike Merrit of Austin, Texas writes to share his passion for water towers. Not only does he photograph them, he also makes original models like the one shown here. This model is made from clay, steel and molded rubber. It bears a striking resemblence to the World’s Tallest Water Sphere, especially with the vibrant blue color scheme of the 1990s. We hoep the WTWS will provide him with continued inspiration.

Mike also has a Flickr site with more images of water towers and his inspired artwork.

WTWS Vacation Visits Picking Up

Spheroid — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:27:00 +0000

Blue Sky WTWS

The World’s Tallest Water Sphere has been featured as a vacation destination in a recent Go Big or Go Home blog posting.

Traci LaRosa Suppa has written our site to let us know that she and her family, who make it a point to visit the world’s biggest oddities, had fun reading and seeing the World’s Tallest Water Sphere. She also took this lovely picture which has just above the clearest, bluest sky that I have ever seen. The blue looks just wonderful backing our beloved ghostly white WTWS.

Their family also made the trip to the Edison museum and viewed the WTWS fomr Ingersoll Terrace, home of the Edison houses. Visit their Go Big or Go Home blog and read all about it!

Emmy Award Winning

Spheroid — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:39:41 +0000

Congratulations go to Brian Donohue for his work on the Star Ledger Live site and all its interesting stories. The World’s Tallest Water Sphere site was interviewed for a segment back in January of 2009.

Brian Donohue has won an Emmy award for his work in interactive media. With a love for the World’s Tallest Water Sphere, New Jersey, and all it’s weirdness, what else could be done but to photograph the Emmy alongside the WTWS. We like the look! If ever there were structural problems, what else would be a better proposal than to have a giant, golden, art deco, statue prop the giant sphere?

Spherical Alignment

Spheroid — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:30:50 +0000

This heavenly alignment of the World’s Tallest Water Sphere and the Sun was photographed and submitted by reader Brian Donahue in February of 2010. The photo is taken from Route 78 in the Hillside area looking west.

As several readers have mentioned, there is an alignment of Sphere and Sun during two moments during the year when the Sun’s elliptical declination aligns perfectly behind the water tower. Can other readers guess what these dates are and the significance to the builders? One clue is that this photo taken in February is close to the date but not precisely aligned. Another clue is that there has been one moment in time when the Sun has been eclipsed by the Moon and the Moon has been eclipsed by the World’s Tallest Water Sphere.

Gravity Defying Action

Spheroid — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:56:40 +0000

This gravity defying action shot of the World’s Tallest Water Sphere was taken recently from a speeding automobile traveling north on the Garden State Parkway. Thanks to Gina Signorella-Arlen who enlisted the help of her family in capturing this shot safely while navigating crowded swarms of swerving New Jersey drivers attempting to perform the same maneuver.

This is the terrifying image that millions witness every day. I love the color, the clouds, and the trees in this photo. Imagine the tension and fear that viewers might experience as they are driving along the New Jersey highways and seeing the World’s Tallest Water Sphere for the first time.

“A steel tower appears on the horizon. Interesting, perhaps a water tower. That’s odd. It is the tallest water tower I have ever seen. It looks nearly white, and yet it blocks the sun behind it.

As I drive closer in the winter’s cold, the tower appears even taller, stretching its massive hammer head toward the clouds. It stands by an icy swamp. Dead trees and gray chill all around. Balanced, top heavy, apparently upside-down, it challenges gravity and defies the lashing winds.

Nearing, it appears to be too close to the road. Perhaps it is actually in the road? Am I going to have to swerve to avoid hitting this beast? By the second, I am coming closer to this monster. I cannot stop my car now. Maybe if I stay in this group of other vehicles it will not see me. Perhaps if I accelerate I can avoid being smashed by this giant gray steel bludgeon!

Now I am at its base. It reaches upwards scraping the cold gray sky. Unbowed, it is too big for my windshield. It utterly fills my field of view. I cannot avert my eyes or I will crash. I see its perspiring welded seams, the beaconed head, the oxidized iron bubbling through the paint. I see the veinous wires crawling up its neck. With spiked collars around its neck, it appears to be leaning over the roadway. Is it about to pounce? It will crush us all if it falls. In the fell clutch of circumstance! Black as the pit from pole to pole!”

A Winter’s Portrait

Spheroid — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:18:35 +0000

Happy New Year to all from the World’s Tallest Water Sphere. A prosperous 2010 to all our reader.

Our intrepid reporters had a chance to visit the World’s Tallest Water Sphere and take some photos. We will file a report soon. In the mean time, here is a preview photo of a lovely day at the site.

The sky is clear and blue. The Kahwamee swamp is reedy and cold. The water tower looms over all, watching from behind the trees. This photo was taken on December 29th, 2009. The air temp was about 22 degrees and there were high gusty winds making the wavelets on the water.

Tracking Us in Portland

Spheroid — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:39:53 +0000

The Portland Water Bureau has written a blog article on this site. It is interesting to see various water companies and municipal water works tracking and linking to this site. Thanks to author Jennie Day-Burget of Blogtella for writing the nice article.

The Portland Water Bureau motto is “From Forest to Faucet”. The Union Township municipal water does not come from a forest. It comes from wells drilled into the Kahwamee swamp. It is pumped and processed in a local treatment plant and stored in the World’s Tallest Water Sphere.

Perhaps Union residents can have a similar motto as well. “From Swamp to Sink” or “From Kahwamee to Kraphole” are two that come to mind. What are your ideas? Got any catchy subtitles for the World’s Tallest Water Sphere water?

The Blue Era

Spheroid — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:44:07 +0000

This photo depicts the World’s Tallest Water Sphere from the “Blue Era”. Photo taken in December of 1991. It also is the photo used for the header logo of this site.