We know that the column can rise until it meets atmospheric pressure. This because the water column is being drawn up by a vacuum, so the pressure on top of the column is essentially zero. The column is above atmospheric pressure, this is basically "supporting" the column. When the water column gets to a height that it exerts a pressure greater than the pressure below it, it will not rise anymore. This concept applies to mercury thermometers as well.
I will provide a quantitative explanation as well.
P = Po (pressure = atmospheric pressure)
P = ρgh and P0 = 101,325 N/m^2
P = Po
ρgh = P0
(1000 kg/m^3)(9.8 N/kg)(h) = P0
h = P0/(9800 N/m^3) = (101,325 N/m^2)/(9800 N/m^3) = 10.34 m