I found this 50 year old bulletin from PDM. It's like a brouchure to some extent. Wanted to share it here!

Hydro Pillar [or Hydropillar] - The Greeks had a word for it: ΥΔΡΟΠΙΛΛΑΡ

Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company


Page 2 (above) says:

The PDM Hydro Pillar is the most unique and distinct elevated water tank design of the past decade. Behind the sculptured symmetry and beyond it's service capacity, it offers a plus in the way of potential, multi-story building area located within the central support column.

This support is a cylindrical column of fluted steel plate with the riser pipe, overflow pipe access ladder to the tank roof completely enclosed and vandal proof.

Since these items use only a small amount of space with the support column, there is considerable room for showers and dressing rooms, and for storage of vehicular equipment, materials and tools. In the larger capacity tanks the usable potential of floor space may eliminate the need to provide for separate facilities for pumping station, office, fire department. etc.

Fluting the central support pillar gives it structural ridigity and at the same time simulates the long, clean lines of a Grecian column. Because every part of the PDM Hydro Pillar is functional (serves a useful purpose) --nothing added soley for decorative reasons-- the cost is surprisingly close to that of conventional tanks.

A PDM Hydro Pillar installation costs less than the total cost of a separate water storage tank plus buildings for storage, pumps or office facilities and cost of land. Furthermore, you will only have one building to heat, cool, maintain and insure.

Since the innovation of the Hydro Pillar at Florence, Kentucky, in 1962 --500,000 gallons-- there are now Hydro Pillars in every section of the country with capacities varying from 250,000 gallons to 2,000,000 gallons. Designs are available up to 3,000,000 gallons.

The fluted support column design alos permitts designs of almost any conceivable configuration for the tank itself. Conversely, the fluted pillar has been used as a dry riser to add decor to PDM's conventional tank designs.

In 1966 a 1,000,000 gallon Hydro Pillar at Delaware, Ohio, won the first "Steel Plate Fabricators Elevated Tabk of the Year Award". In 1968 and 1969 the use of the fluted center column with other tank designs also received this award.

Elevated water tanks are usually high structures and therefore are prominent landmarks. It is predicted that by 1975 the daily use of water in the United States will exceed 450 billion gallons. More water storage tanks must be built. Areas needing water supply often do not have adequate land on which to build conventional tanks. The striking beauty of the Hydro Pillar allow it to be built ib residential areas without distracting or downgrading property values.


Page 3 (above) features photographs of PDM Hydro Pillars from around the country.


Page 4 (above) says:

Colunbus, Ohio -- Hydro Pillar Capital of the World

The water system at Columbus, with more than 1750 miles of water lines, had two problems. First, the pressure on the entire system had to be provided by elevated storage tanks. Second, the system growth to an area of almost 120 square miles presented a problem in operation of maintenance crews fron one central location.

These four Hydro Pillars, strategically loacted in new... (continued on page 5)


Page 5 (above, text continuing from previous page) says:

...residential areas to the north, east , south and west --from 10 to 12 miles from the center of the city-- solves these problems.

They provided the necessary elevated storage and combined shop substations for each area in one space-saving structure. The pictures show the initial space utilization, currently at one level. Development of 2, 3, 4 or 5 more levels can be arranged as the need arises.


Page 6 (above) features photographs of PDM Hydro Pillars from around the country.


Page 7 (above) feature a diagram or drawing titled Typical Cross-Section View showing the different parts of a PDM Hydro Pillar and how they work together.


Page 8 (above) lists the contact information (address and telephone) for twenty-one (21) PDM sales offices around the country.

Features also four (4) drawings of Hydro Pillars including two (2) which appear to have exceptionally unique shaped / designed tanks. One looks like a bell and the other looks like a cork top jug.

Bulletin 103 / Copyright 4/71

You can read about the history of PDM at pdmsteel.com/about/our-company.html.

Excerpt: PDM was once part of the Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company, a nationwide American steel fabrication company involved in some of US’ most astounding monumental construction projects, including the Saint Louis Arch (fabricator and erector) and the World Trade Center.

See also the history section in the Wikipedia entry for PDM wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh-Des_Moines_Steel_Co.:

The company was founded in 1892 by two graduates of Iowa State College, William H. Jackson and Berkeley M. Moss. The partners initially contracted to have their steel tanks fabricated by Keystone Bridge Company of Pittsburgh, but soon took on a third partner, Edward W. Crellin, who was operating a small fabricating shop in Des Moines, Iowa. It was at this point that the Des Moines Bridge and Iron Company was formed. The company would ship steel stock from Pittsburgh for the manufacture of a range of engineered products including water towers, bridges, water works and electric plants. Moss left the company around 1905, after a new fabricating plant had been opened in Warren, Pennsylvania in 1900.

In 1916, the name of the company was changed to Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company, and a new headquarters was opened in Pittsburgh. The partnership remained until 1956, when the company was incorporated. It later became Pittsburgh-Des Moines Corporation in 1980, which was later shortened to Pitt-Des Moines, Inc. in 1985. It had also had registered "PDM" as a trademark as early as 1930.

In July 1993, the original site and fabrication works in Des Moines, Iowa (by then called the Des Moines Heavy Bridge Division) was damaged beyond salvage due to flooding from the Raccoon River, causing the site to be permanently closed, and later sold.

In 2001, the company was acquired by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company. The Warren plant was closed in early 2009 by CB&I. Also in 2001, the company's steel distribution unit was acquired by Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

In 2016, PDM relocated its headquarters to the city of Elk Grove, California, where it remains today.