16th Annual Triangle Model Water Tower Competition

Join the NC One Water Public Education Workgroup on November 7 for the 16th Annual Triangle Model Water Tower Competition. Students in grades 3 through 12 design and build a working model water tower, then bring it in to be tested and judged by practicing water professionals. Towers are scored on structural efficiency, hydraulic efficiency, cost efficiency, interview, design ingenuity, and scale drawing (high school only), and cash prizes are awarded in every division. Students may compete individually or in teams of up to four. No engineering experience is required, every participant receives a t-shirt, and families and teachers are welcome to come cheer.

Event Details

Date

Saturday, November 7, 2026

Time

Check-in 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Competition begins at 9:30 AM and ends by 12:00 PM

Location

Cary Senior Center
120 Maury Odell Place
Cary, NC 27513

Who Can Enter

Students in grades 3 through 12

Divisions

Elementary, grades 3 to 5
Middle School, grades 6 to 8
High School, grades 9 to 12

Team Size

Individually or in teams of up to four students

Pricing

Free to enter (registration required)

Registration Form — Monday, October 19, 2026
Participant Release Form — Thursday, November 5, 2026

Forms Required

Registration Form, one per team, and Participant Release Form, one per student

Contact Hours

No CEU or PDH hours offered

Awards

Cash prizes are awarded in each of the three divisions.

First Place

$300

Second Place

$200

Third Place

$100

Fourth and Fifth

$50 each

How to Register

Both forms are required. Registration is free.

Step 1 — Registration Form

One per team. Submit by Monday, October 19.

Step 2 — Participant Release Form

One per student. Submit by Thursday, November 5, or bring a printed copy to the competition.

Student Information Packet (PDF)

If the buttons above do not open, copy and paste these links into your browser:
Registration Form — https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/vAehqQHWAq
Participant Release Form — https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/LWBMcDfvuK
Student Information Packet — https://www.nconewater.org/docs/2026_Model_Water_Tower_Competition_Student_Information_Packet.pdf

Questions

To ask about rules, accommodations, or volunteering as a judge, contact Kelly Turner, P.E., at kturner@hazenandsawyer.com or Katie Snyder, P.E., at ksnyder@hazenandsawyer.com.

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