Waste House No 1 dam
Waste House No 1
Waste House No 1 is a historic earth dam located in Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania, that was completed in 1884 for water supply purposes. This dam, standing at a height of 57 feet and spanning a length of 410 feet, holds a normal storage capacity of 176.4 acre-feet in the Wastehouse Run. Operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and regulated by the state, Waste House No 1 is crucial for maintaining water resources in Schuylkill County.
Despite its age, Waste House No 1 is in satisfactory condition according to the last inspection in November 2020, with a high hazard potential due to its location. The dam has a spillway width and outlet gate information that is unlisted, and its associated structures are currently not applicable. With a drainage area of 0.95 square miles, Waste House No 1 serves as a vital component of the water supply infrastructure in the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring its integrity for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Overall, Waste House No 1 stands as a testament to the historical significance of water resource management in Pennsylvania, with its enduring presence serving as a reminder of the essential role dams play in ensuring water supply for communities. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the proper regulation and maintenance of structures like Waste House No 1 are crucial to safeguarding the environment and meeting the water needs of the future.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Waste House No 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Schuylkill River At Tamaqua | 41 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Landingville | 209 cfs | → |
| Wapwallopen Creek Near Wapwallopen | 52 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Bloomsburg | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Near Bloomsburg | 356 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Berne | 409 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waste House No 1.
Boat launches
- Locust Lake Boat Launch
- Tuscarora Lake Boat Launch
- Pottsville
- Test Track Park
- Auburn Dam
- Schuylkill River Trail West Brunswick Township
Track Waste House No 1 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Waste House No 1
Where does the data for Waste House No 1 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Waste House No 1.