Egelman Reservoir
Egelman Reservoir is an earth dam located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, built in 1901. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Egelman Reservoir
The primary purpose of Egelman 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 City Of Reading - Department Of Public Works (local government). It impounds the Ross Valley Creek.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 21 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1901, the structure is over a century 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 04/02/2020.
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 | Berks |
| River/Stream | Ross Valley Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.34000, -75.89528 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1901 (125 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 21 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 21 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 17 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF READING - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/02/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA01428 |
| Federal ID | PA01428 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |