Wasserturm Dreimarkstein

High on a hill, the Wasserturm Dreimarkstein stands watch. This isn’t just any water tower. It’s a sentinel of Vienna’s history, quietly observing the city’s growth. The Wasserturm Dreimarkstein, perched at 425 meters above sea level, is one of Vienna’s highest water reservoirs. Its location along Höhenstraße provides water to parts of Hietzing and Döbling. The tower itself is an octagonal structure. It boasts a sandstone base and a segmented arch entrance. It’s a listed monument now, accessible from the Höhenstraße. The water for the Wasserturm Dreimarkstein is supplied via the Salmannsdorf pumping station. The tower’s construction date is a bit of a mystery. The Municipal Department 31 lists it as 1935. However, the DEHIO Handbook of the Federal Monuments Office gives 1925. Interestingly, there are mentions of the Wasserturm Dreimarkstein as far back as 1914. This suggests the tower predates both of those official dates. As Vienna grew, so did Döbling and Hietzing. The Wasserturm Dreimarkstein, with its single water chamber, became too small. Its original design limited how much it could be adapted to modern needs. Consequently, a new water reservoir was built in 2012 right next to the old Wasserturm Dreimarkstein at Höhenstraße 100. This new reservoir has two separate water chambers and can hold a combined 1.2 million liters of water. The new reservoir’s location within a protected landscape area posed a unique challenge. The design had to be as wildlife-friendly as possible. The Wasserturm Dreimarkstein, though no longer Vienna’s primary source of water in this area, remains a testament to the city’s ingenuity and growth. It’s a hidden gem, offering a glimpse into the past and the evolving needs of a thriving metropolis.