TEXAS — More than two dozen Texas water towers were in the running for a 2026 Tank of the Year contest.
The painting and coating company Tnemec started the contest 20 years ago to see how their products were being used across North America.
Each year, the public votes on a people’s choice tank, and the company chooses 11 other finalists for the title. Of those 12, Tnemec then chooses an official tank of the year. Tnemec’s Austin McKahan said when it comes to Texas entries, the Lone Star State goes big.
“They’ve won tank of the year throughout the years, multiple times,” McKahan said.
This year saw 26 entries from across the state. While some were built more recently than others, all of them act as community landmarks.
A Central Texas entry is using its tank as a way to send a message. All the designs around their tank were drawn by local elementary students, who were asked, “What does water conservation look like?”
Travis County Water District 10 President Jon Luce said they wanted to incorporate student voices in the West Lake Hills tank.
“Water conservation is more and more important as the population grows. It’s just a message that we live with,” Luce said.
Results for this year’s contest can be found here.