Dams

Pennsylvania has a total of 3,347 state-regulated dams, including 776 high hazard potential dams (23 percent); 289 significant hazard potential dams (9 percent); and 2,282 low hazard potential dams (68 percent). High hazard potential dams are those whose failure would cause probable loss of human life and substantial property damage. Of the 776 high hazard potential dams in Pennsylvania, 518 (67 percent) are considered as "deficient." A deficient dam is defined as any dam with a structural or hydraulic deficiency capable of causing the sudden uncontrollable release of reservoir water by partial or complete failure of the dam or any of its features. The estimated cost to repair all Pennsylvania dams projected to be found deficient over the next five years is more than $1.4 billion. Because of the Dam Safety Program, established in the late 1970s, Pennsylvania has remained ahead of most states in dam safety. For Pennsylvania dams, a grade of C- reflects the positive benefits of Pennsylvania's dam safety program, balanced against the high number of dams in need of repair, the $1.4 billion needed for repair and rehabilitation of deficient high hazard potential dams, and the significant threat a dam failure would pose to public health, safety and property, the environment and to local, county and state economies.

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