Potable Water Tower Miami VA Medical Center

Designed to ensure uninterrupted service during emergency scenarios, the Miami VA Medical Center’s 1,000,000-gallon Waterspheroid elevated water tower project provided a critical layer of resilience for one of South Florida’s key healthcare institutions. The tower was engineered to supply the hospital with a full seven-day reserve of potable water—supporting essential infrastructure including toilets, sinks, showers, and cooling towers.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF EMERGENCY WATER DEMAND

The design called for the installation of a food-grade elevated steel tank, accompanied by a robust water treatment system to prevent contamination and preserve water quality. A compact building at the tower’s base was constructed to house the essential equipment: booster pumps, control systems, chlorination infrastructure, and power connections. Booster pumps ensured that adequate water pressure could reach even the highest levels of the hospital, while existing on-site generators were utilized for uninterrupted electrical supply.

This project exemplified the convergence of civil engineering, healthcare resilience planning, and environmental stewardship. The VA’s implementation of water conservation measures was also factored into the design strategy—allowing the total water reserve to precisely match the hospital’s reduced demand in emergency conditions. The result was a fully integrated emergency water supply system that supports both patient care and public safety with architectural clarity and technical rigor.