Bradford City No 5
Bradford City No 5 is an earth dam located in McKean County, Pennsylvania, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bradford City No 5
The primary purpose of Bradford City No 5 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 Bradford City Water Authority (local government). It impounds the West Branch Tunungwant Creek.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 102 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,390 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1957, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/09/2020.
At 68 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | McKean |
| River/Stream | West Branch Tunungwant Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.89639, -78.71944 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,390 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,390 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,090 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 102 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BRADFORD CITY WATER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/09/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00026 |
| Federal ID | PA00026 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |