Old Water Supply Dam
Old Water Supply Dam is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1900. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Old Water Supply Dam
The primary purpose of Old Water Supply Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Bedford (local government). It impounds the Shawsheen River near Bedford.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 160 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 04/15/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Bedford |
| River/Stream | Shawsheen River |
| Coordinates | 42.48973, -71.25469 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 160 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 110 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Bedford |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/15/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA03243 |
| Federal ID | MA03243 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |