The water tower was built between 1912 and 1923. At the start of WW I, the works were halted. The structural work was finished up to the first floor. In 1918 they finally continued with the construction.
It was builton top of aheavy concreteslabandis 35mhigh.He isone of the oldeststructuresinreinforced concreteof the country. The total height ofthe water toweris34.85m. Inthe middle of thetower isa shaftthat serves asstaircaseandrunsall the wayup tothe top ofthe tower.The discharge linegoes viatheshaft intothe tub. Due to theplaceof the arrangement(highest point)and the heightof the tanks,the pressure onthe tapwas keptat a maximum of3.6barand at least 3bar.
The tubconsists oftwoconcentrictanks, namelyaninner and outershell.Both are10mdeep,butonlyup to a heightof6.4mfilled with water. Each tub contains 500.000l water, making a total of 1.000.000l water. This structure made it possible to do repairs or cleaning on one of the tubs while the other remained employed.
The function of thewater towerwastwofold:
served as awater reserveatpeak consumption
was thepressurestabilizeron the water supply
Generalities:
was responsible for theproduction and supply ofhigh qualitydrinking waterforthe Camp and thetown of Leopoldsburg. Since 2000supplies totheCampstoppedandsince2013supplies to Leopoldsburg have stopped as well;
Foradaily production of2millionlitres of drinking water;
Management and operationdone by theArmed Forces (4KDR);
Number of consumersinDecember 1994: 12 345(residents of Leopoldsburg: 8996– Occupationgarrison: 3349).
With thanks to CC INFRA – Noord & the Museum ‘Kamp van Beverlo’ for sharing a lot of information.
An interesting text of the Local History Society Leopoldsburg association about the Water tower of Camp Beverlo can be found HERE.