Guest Column: Do Water Towers Make Bad Antenna Sites?

By Alfred T. Yerger II

I'm often presented with the question, "Do water tanks make bad antenna sites?" The answer I give is what my wife calls the consultant catch-all answer — it depends. There are a number of factors that determine whether a water tower system will be effective or not, including the type of water tower or tank, the frequency band of the system, the presence of other systems, the need for omnidirectional coverage, and the intermodulation situation.

At first glance, the classic, iconic water tower would appear to be an ideal antenna site. First, water towers are usually placed in high locations in order to produce sufficient water pressure. Second, there are usually few zoning issues because the structure is already in place, and adding a few antennas won't make the thing look any uglier than it already is. Third, particularly for public safety systems, the land is often already owned by the local government or water authority, making the site available for little or no monthly rent.

Despite these obvious advantages, there are also some downsides to the typical water tank that, depending on the nature of the proposed system, could — or should — be major show stoppers.