More than a water tower: How UI's new standpipe keeps campus running

The University of Iowa's newest water tower is hard to miss. Rising about 138 feet above campus - or about the height of a 13-story building - near Kinnick Stadium and UI Health Care University Campus, the distinctive standpipe has become a new landmark.

But its most important work happens out of sight.

"The standpipe is an important investment in the campus water system," says Ty Miller, senior engineer with UI Utilities. "In addition to increasing storage capacity, it improves pressure stability, operational flexibility, fire-flow capacity, and the university's ability to support future campus growth."

Built for today's campus, and tomorrow's

The new standpipe replaces a 750,000-gallon water tower that served campus for decades. Rather than simply replacing the aging structure, the university designed a larger, more capable system that reflects current standards and regulatory guidance.

The standpipe has a 60-foot diameter and holds about 2.876 million gallons of treated water - nearly four times the storage capacity of the previous tower. It also has its own pumping station with four pumps capable of moving a combined 4,000 gallons of water per minute when needed.

The system was designed to meet projected campus water needs through at least 2042, providing flexibility as the university grows, including future UI Health Care expansion.

How does a standpipe work?

After water is treated at the university's water treatment plant, high-pressure pumps send it into the standpipe. The tower helps balance campus water demand throughout the day, storing treated water when demand is lower and sending water to the distribution system as demand increases. Water is stored at the top of the tower and gravity creates consistent pressure that helps push water throughout the distribution system and to campus buildings.

During the 2025-26 school year, the university used an average of about 1.8 million gallons of water per day, with the highest demand typically occurring in late August and early September as students returned to campus.

During periods of high demand, or when pumping from the water treatment plant is limited, the standpipe's pumping station can move stored water back into the distribution system to help maintain service to campus.

The stored water supports campus in cases of power outages, pipeline failures, water plant interruptions, or if a large volume of water use used for firefighting.

Why height matters

The tower's height helps create the pressure needed to move water across campus.

Because the water is stored at a high elevation, gravity naturally creates pressure throughout the distribution system. The standpipe is about 22 feet taller than the previous tower, increasing campus water pressure by about 10 pounds per square inch (psi).

That additional pressure improves service to buildings across campus, particularly those farther from the treatment plant, while also increasing available flow for any firefighting needs.

Designed for reliability

Beyond increasing storage, the new water tower gives utility teams more flexibility to operate and maintain the campus water system.

The standpipe includes modern features for maintenance, disinfection, inspection, and management of water age and quality. The pumping station also provides another layer of reliability during emergencies or periods of peak demand.

Together, these features help provide reliable water service for the university's academic buildings, residence halls, research facilities, athletics venues, and UI Health Care facilities, supporting day-to-day campus operations.

"The standpipe provides the capacity and flexibility needed to support an evolving and growing campus," Miller says. "It helps maintain a reliable water system and positions the university to meet future demand."