Hamburg Reservoir is an earth dam located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 53 ft53 ft tall and 500 ft long, taller than 93% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Hamburg Reservoir
The primary purpose of Hamburg Reservoir 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 Hamburg Municipal Authority (local government). It impounds the Furnace Creek.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 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 11/10/2020.
At 53 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 | Furnace Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.59222, -75.94417 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 106 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Hamburg Municipal Authority |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/10/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00718 |
| Federal ID | PA00718 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |