Philadelphia Mills
Philadelphia Mills is an earth dam located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, built in 1994. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Philadelphia Mills
The primary purpose of Philadelphia Mills is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Franklin Mills Associates (private). It impounds the Tr Poquessing Creek.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 1,125 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 76 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1994, the structure is 32 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 01/17/2020.
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 | Philadelphia |
| River/Stream | Tr Poquessing Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.08028, -74.96250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1994 (32 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 76 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 76 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | FRANKLIN MILLS ASSOCIATES |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/17/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA01426 |
| Federal ID | PA01426 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |