Farrington Dam
Farrington Dam is a concrete dam located in Middlesex County, New Jersey, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Farrington Dam
The primary purpose of Farrington 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 New Brunswick City (local government). It impounds the Lawrence Brook.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 535 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 211 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,140 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 34 square miles. Completed in 1926, 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 12/15/2023.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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 New Jersey 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 | New Jersey |
| County | Middlesex |
| River/Stream | Lawrence Brook |
| Coordinates | 40.44945, -74.45328 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 535 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,450 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 211 acres |
| Drainage Area | 34 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 55 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | New Brunswick City |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/15/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00383 |
| Federal ID | NJ00383 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |