The reinforced concrete water tower, constructed in the 1930s to serve the needs of the Public Abattoir, is the only structure of its type and size in the Maltese Islands. The water tower consists of a reinforced concrete structure consisting of a drum resting on a truncated conical structure with a dome at the base and ring beams, supported on 12 slender reinforced concrete columns. It was set for demolition in 2009 because of severe degradation. The University of Malta (UM) made the case for its conservation based on new methods in the emerging field of reinforced concrete conservation. The complex restoration was based on new advanced techniques in restoration of reinforced concrete, research and development of innovative high-performance materials together with their application, and the development of a smart sensor network system for the durability and structural health monitoring of the structure. The assessment of the structure included key strategic steps in archival research and documentation; appraisal and mapping of deterioration; characterisation of materials and assessment of the reinforced concrete including non-destructive assessment testing of materials;...
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