New York's skyline is scattered with tall wooden water tower structures that are often not noticed. However once you notice them, you begin to notice the vast numbers of them that line the horizon. I recently saw a video of these (shown below) and I it made me ponder whether or not these could be made of rotomolded plastic.

Most buildings over 6 stories high require a water tower to pump pressurized water to the tenants below.

Many of these towers are 25 years old and it makes you wonder what kind of bacteria or rot are festering in this structures. Why not go with a FDA approved polyethylene tank?

Not only is health a concern but what about the cost? These wooden structures can cost up to $40 000 and steel containers $130 000.

The only logical reason I can think that these structures are still to this day made of wood is the ability to carry out the assembly on the rooftop. Buildings elevators are suitably sized to transport small wooden panels. However, hoisting a 10 000 gallon plastic tank on to a 10 story building is not as simple as it sounds.

What reasons can you think of?