Plainville Reservoir Dam
Plainville Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Hartford County, Connecticut, built in 1884. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Plainville Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Plainville Reservoir Dam 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 Town Of Southington (local government). It impounds the Patton Brook Trib near Southington.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 688 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 55 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 528 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1884, the structure is over a century 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 10/02/2024.
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 Connecticut 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 | Connecticut |
| County | Hartford |
| Nearest City | Southington |
| River/Stream | Patton Brook Trib |
| Coordinates | 41.64783, -72.84274 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 688 ft |
| Year Completed | 1884 (142 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 528 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 528 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 429 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 109 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Southington |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/02/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00259 |
| Federal ID | CT00259 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |