Murphys Wastewater
Murphys Wastewater is an earth dam located in Calaveras County, California, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Murphys Wastewater
The primary purpose of Murphys Wastewater is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Murphys Sanitary District (public utility). It impounds the Offstream near Murphys.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 590 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 140 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/17/2025.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Calaveras |
| Nearest City | Murphys |
| River/Stream | Offstream |
| Coordinates | 38.12777, -120.46192 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 590 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Murphys Sanitary District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01185 |
| Federal ID | CA01185 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |