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 To view meeting: https://youtu.be/YkVoO9afjN0 April 26, 2022 - JT Hand, president and CEO of the York Water Company spoke at our weekly meeting. For over a century the Lake Williams Dam has supplied the local community with drinking water. The original dam was built in 1911 and lasted for more than 100 years. JT said the dam was still in good shape but lacked the ability to withstand extreme weather events. “The project is needed for a number of reasons, most importantly being compliance with current dam design standards,” said JT. “The existing earthen dam, built in 1912, does not meet 21st Century engineering design, public safety, and flow capacity standards. An example is the existing spillway, which is used to release water from the reservoir, was built on fill material, as was commonly done during that era. The new spillway will be built on solid rock and incorporate modern engineering design and construction techniques to last for another 100+ years.” The new dam will hold the same amount of water as it does today. In addition to normal rainfall, it's designed to prepare for a worst-case scenario: a storm that dumps more than 40 inches of rain within 72 hours. It would allow 10 feet of water to go over the top of the spillway. The new dam is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. |