Drinkwater

Drinkwater is an earth dam located in Los Angeles County, California, built in 1923. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Drinkwater

Drinkwater is a dam in Los Angeles, California. The dam is owned by City Of Los Angeles Department Of Water And Power (local government). It impounds the Offstream.

The dam stands 105 feet tall and stretches 448 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 92 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1923, 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 11/19/2025.

At 105 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.

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Significant HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateCalifornia
CountyLos Angeles
River/StreamOffstream
Coordinates34.53020, -118.52340

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height105 ft
Dam Height105 ft
Dam Length448 ft
Year Completed1923 (103 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage92 acre-ft
Max Storage92 acre-ft
Surface Area4 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeOther
OwnerCity of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection11/19/2025
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDCA00077
Federal IDCA00077
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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