A modular counterflow cooling tower comprising: a first cold water basin housing and a second cold water basin housing, and said first and second cold water basin housings comprising a plenum; first and second direct heat transfer housings, said first direct heat transfer housing dimensioned and configured to rest directly atop said first cold water basin housing, said second direct heat transfer housing dimensioned and configured to rest directly atop said second cold water basin housing; first, second and center fan support sections, said first fan support section dimensioned and configured to rest directly atop a first portion of a top face of said first direct heat transfer housing, said second fan support section dimensioned and configured to rest directly atop a first portion of a top face of said second direct heat transfer housing, and said center fan support section dimensioned and configured to rest atop and span a second portion of said top face of said first direct heat transfer housing and a second portion of said top face of said second direct heat transfer housing; a first water distribution system and a second water distribution system, said first water distribution system located above heat transfer media in said first direct heat transfer housing and said second water distribution system located above heat transfer media in said second direct heat transfer housing; a single hot process water inlet located in one of said first cold water basin housing, said second cold water basin housing, said first fan support section, said second fan support section, said center fan support section, said first direct heat transfer housing, and said second direct heat transfer housing; a single cold water outlet located in one of said first cold water basin housing and said second cold water basin housing; said single hot process water inlet connected to said first and second water distribution systems, and wherein, in operation, a fan on the fan support sections draws air into the plenum of the cold water basin housings via air inlets provided on external facing sides and/or ends of said cold water basin housings, up through the heat transfer media of the heat transfer housings, and out the top of the tower. a first cold water basin housing and a second cold water basin housing, and said first and second cold water basin housings comprising a plenum; first and second direct heat transfer housings, said first direct heat transfer housing dimensioned and configured to rest directly atop said first cold water basin housing, said second direct heat transfer housing dimensioned and configured to rest directly atop said second cold water basin housing; first, second and center fan support sections, said first fan support section dimensioned and configured to rest directly atop a first portion of a top face of said first direct heat transfer housing, said second fan support section dimensioned and configured to rest directly atop a first portion of a top face of said second direct heat transfer housing, and said center fan support section dimensioned and configured to rest atop and span a second portion of said top face of said first direct heat transfer housing and a second portion of said top face of said second direct heat transfer housing; a first water distribution system and a second water distribution system, said first water distribution system located above heat transfer media in said first direct heat transfer housing and said second water distribution system located above heat transfer media in said second direct heat transfer housing; a single hot process water inlet located in one of said first cold water basin housing, said second cold water basin housing, said first fan support section, said second fan support section, said center fan support section, said first direct heat transfer housing, and said second direct heat transfer housing; a single cold water outlet located in one of said first cold water basin housing and said second cold water basin housing; said single hot process water inlet connected to said first and second water distribution systems, and wherein, in operation, a fan on the fan support sections draws air into the plenum of the cold water basin housings via air inlets provided on external facing sides and/or ends of said cold water basin housings, up through the heat transfer media of the heat transfer housings, and out the top of the tower.