Lake Ontelaunee
Lake Ontelaunee is an earth dam located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Ontelaunee
The primary purpose of Lake Ontelaunee 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 Reading Area Water Authority (local government). It impounds the Maiden Creek.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 2,834 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,037 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 22,788 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 192 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/07/2020.
At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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 | Berks |
| River/Stream | Maiden Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.44750, -75.92972 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,834 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 22,788 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 22,788 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,037 acres |
| Drainage Area | 192 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/07/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00709 |
| Federal ID | PA00709 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |