In the period between 1904 and 1907, the Aarhus area saw rapid population growth and the land of the former Katrinebjerg estate was developed on the city's northern limit.

[4] The city council eventually agreed that it was their duty to ensure the residents of the Christiansbjerg area were supplied with safe water.

The tower and its pump house were to be erected on municipal land at Højvang, a site with an elevation of 81.2 meters above sea level.

[6] By 1945–1946, the tower required major repairs to its brickwork and the cement covering of the upper ledge, both of which had cracked.

[8][9] In 1989, Aarhus Municipality leased the tower for free to a private foundation (Fonden Vandtårnet på Randersvej).

Work such as installing furnishings, flooring, insulation, and other general renovations were undertaken by the project's youth community under supervision.

[13] The major renovation of the tower exceeded the original schedule due to a lack of resources, planning problems, and educational responsibilities of the young people involved.

However, there were no craftsmen in the city who could work with reinforced concrete and there were further fears that the density and durability of the material would not hold up well over time.

[17] Ultimately, the tower was built with red bricks supported on a plinth of granite blocks, creating a total height of 38 meters.

[18] The roof of the structure is cone-shaped and cladded in copper with a lantern room topped by a weather vane at its peak.