The Gary Water Tower of the Northwest Indiana Water Company has been a fixture on the city skyline since Gary's beginning. The concrete structure stands 150 feet tall and encloses an elevated cylindrical steel tank with a capacity of 290,000 gallons. It was originally Gary's only storage facility for drinking water and fire protection. In 1953, it was converted to a filter-backwash water tank when the Borman Park Water Filtration Plant was placed in service. The American Water Works Association designated it an historical landmark in 1970, and in 1997 the company renovated the structure while retaining its original architectural design. It stands as an icon of Gary's past, an important working facility in the present, and a symbol of the company's commitment to the future of Northwest Indiana.