Whigville Reservoir Dam
Whigville Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Hartford County, Connecticut, built in 1909. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Whigville Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Whigville 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 City Of New Britain (local government). It impounds the Whigville Brook near Whigville.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 615 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1909, 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 12/03/2024.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Whigville |
| River/Stream | Whigville Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.73566, -72.95002 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 615 ft |
| Year Completed | 1909 (117 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,565 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of New Britain |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00379 |
| Federal ID | CT00379 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |