Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Water tower


Everyday, Parisians use 600,000 cubic meters (158 million gallons) of drinkable water... Half of this water comes from sources located about 50 miles away from the city and is brought to Paris via Aqueducts and the other half is "produced" by purification plants also located outside Paris. The water is then distributed to tanks thanks to huge pumping systems. I photographed one of these tanks in Montmartre. As you can see (here another view), it is really shaped like the old water towers that you can see in the country (we call them "Chateau d'eau" (water castles)). More about the amazing Paris water network on this site, but only in French.

19 comments:

  1. I'm always amazed by the way the water is used to clean the streets - just left to run. Is that drinking water? I can't see it being anything else. In London we have a similar system of returning water to the earth - it's called Thames Water, but it isn't so deliberate.

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  2. It looks just like the corner piece in an outdoor chess game. It brings to mind that most unusual game the Parisians once played: When the king was moved from Versailles to the Place de la Concorde, and, later, the queen from her cell at the Conciergerie to the same square, the pawns, on both sides, for a change and for a time, won the game.

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  3. As many times as I've been to Montmartre Eric, I've never noticed this. Where is it exactly? Love the perspective.

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  4. Interesting to see and read the post about the water castles.

    I once read that we drink the same water that was drank by the dinosaurs. Before, reading that I'd never given though to the natural cycle (and recycling) of water.

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  5. And how very odd my comment went missing here!

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  6. I was there yesterday and also took a photo of the water tower - what a coincidence!

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  7. Ah, the old wide angle lens distortion. Personally, I prefer the alternative shot Eric's provided here.

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  8. Wendy: dinosaur pee? Eeew! Ok, just kidding. That's water under Pont Neuf anyway. Water distribution systems can be amazing, if seemingly dull "on the surface". The Roman aquaducts, Parisian aquaducts, village wells, city wells, towers, dams, reservoirs. Un verre d'eau, s'il vous plait?

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  9. I love the perspective of this photo - the tank looks like it is bulging with water - cute!

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  10. Having fun with your "new" camera, Eric ;) ? I say this because I tried fitting that thing in mine from every angle... no go. Oh, well. Hope you got a chance to stop and take a few shots of the 18th as well. Around and behind Montmartre, these areas of Paris, are exactly the way they were when I was a kid, a couple of hundred years ago. Even saw a 2 CV last time I was there...

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  11. Michael: c'est le chateau d'eau. You see it when you get in from the steps on the same side as Mairie du 18eme. Happy climbing, though :-)

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  12. Very interesting...looks like a fat milk bottle[from the old days..]..LOL! I just taped a documentary on TV5-Monde about Montmartre, haven't watched it yet, but I wonder if they mention the water tanks?

    I was also reading about the Aqueducts in Paris and how during the time of Maria de Medici after King Henri IV had died she was building the Luxembourg Gardens and a new aqueduct opened, but 50% of it's water went to the gardens instead of the people of Paris. The Parisians hated her and that is why the Jardin du Luxembourg was never named for her as she had planned. Oh well..

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  13. Hah! Clearly, the pawns weren't winning yet, Tonton! However, as I recall the story, either she or a later owner let the public use the gardens as a "public" park. When the French government acquired it, it was going to close it to the public. An outcry arose, and the govt. relented, and it is a public park to this day.

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  14. On another note, I'm glad to read that the authorities have arrested the five nitwits who broke into the Musee d'Orsay, including the one who punched the Monet painting. Of course, they're the 'alleged' perpetrators of this crime until convicted.

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  15. Jeff, amazing, you know more than I do. I did not know they arrested them already. Good!!

    And Tonton I did not know this story about Luxembourg Gardens and thirsty Marie de Médicis!! Very interesting actually.

    The nag, funny coincidence isn't?!

    Michael this water tower is a little concealed, but it's actually not far from Place du Tertre, near the Saint Pierre de Montmartre church.

    And rich Painter, yes I also wondered whether I should post this pic or a less distorted one. In fact - FYI Tomate also - I used a software to produce this image which is in fact composed of 12 different pieces.

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  16. Un chateau d'eau au beau milieu de Paris? C'est assez incroyable ça!

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  17. Wow! That's a great perspective! I love it! This chateau d'eau looks so white and fat at the bottom.
    Too bad I missed it when I was in Paris. Thanks for sharing Eric.

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  18. very nice photo indeed! i like the clarity in the night!

    Mountain Picture!

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