Waste House No 1
Waste House No 1 is an earth dam located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, built in 1884. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Waste House No 1
The primary purpose of Waste House No 1 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 Mahanoy Township Authority (local government). It impounds the Wastehouse Run.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 410 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 244 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 11/03/2020.
At 57 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 Pennsylvania 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 | Pennsylvania |
| County | Schuylkill |
| River/Stream | Wastehouse Run |
| Coordinates | 40.83500, -76.16333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 410 ft |
| Year Completed | 1884 (142 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 244 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 244 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 176 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | MAHANOY TOWNSHIP AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00683 |
| Federal ID | PA00683 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |