Saville Dam
Saville Dam is an earth dam located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Saville Dam
The primary purpose of Saville 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 Metropolitan District Commission (public utility). It impounds the East Branch Farmington R near New Hartford.
The dam stands 137 feet tall and stretches 1,950 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,320 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 97,458 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 53 square miles. Completed in 1940, 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 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 08/15/2024.
At 137 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Litchfield |
| Nearest City | New Hartford |
| River/Stream | East Branch Farmington R |
| Coordinates | 41.91156, -72.95757 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 137 ft |
| Dam Height | 137 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,950 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 97,458 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 97,458 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 93,110 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,320 acres |
| Drainage Area | 53 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,450 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Metropolitan District Commission |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/15/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00376 |
| Federal ID | CT00376 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |