A dam in the Abingtons received funding to upgrade its infrastructure — work that local officials hope will help modernize it and make it safer.
Pennsylvania American Water received a $16.9 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for work on the dam at Griffin Pond Reservoir. The work includes modernizing the outlet, increasing the principal spillway’s capacity, completing the seepage collection system, installing a filter diaphragm around the concrete culvert and related work.
The 110-acre dam, located in South Abington and Scott townships, has structural issues that jeopardize safety, according to officials. The state Department of Environmental Protection categorized it as “unsafe” in 2010 because its existing spillway system is undersized for flood control. There are also misalignment issues along the downstream slope’s existing concrete retaining walls and outlet, and the dam has experienced seepage issues, officials said.
David Misner, senior manager for external communications for Pennsylvania American Water, said the structural improvements are designed to bring the facility into compliance with current DEP dam safety regulations and improve its ability to withstand extreme storm events.
“Once completed, the upgrades — including reinforced embankments and improvements to the spillway, outlet works, and seepage collection system — will enhance the long‑term safety and resilience of the dam,” he said in an email.
Simon German, of Staten Island, New York, fishes off of the pier at Griffin Reservoir in S. Abington Twp. Friday, April 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
An aerial view of Griffin Reservoir in S. Abington Twp. Friday, April 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
An intake structure at the dam at Griffin Reservoir in S. Abington Twp. Friday, April 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Simon German, of Staten Island, New York, fishes off of the pier at Griffin Reservoir in S. Abington Twp. Friday, April 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Simon German, of Staten Island, New York, fishes off of the pier at Griffin Reservoir in S. Abington Twp. Friday, April 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The money will cover the construction, which Misner said is estimated to cost $16,922,000. The water company will finance the design and permitting for the project, Misner said.
The reservoir has been open to the public for shore fishing since 2011 but will be closed to fishing while construction is underway. Fishing will resume once the project is finished, he said. A 2012 study by the state Fish and Boat Commission identified 11 fish species in the reservoir.
The South Abington Twp. Planning Commission sent a letter to the project engineers in support of the project earlier this year. Township Manager JoAnn Pane said the letter was to serve as support of Pennsylvania American Water’s application for the loan.
Misner expects the project will be advertised for bidding next month, with construction beginning later this year and continuing through 2029.
“Griffin Dam is a critical source of safe drinking water for area residents and businesses, but it also poses a significant environmental hazard to down water communities due to its undersized spillway system that could cause significant flooding,” state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp., said in a news release announcing the funding. “As we are experiencing increasingly violent rainstorms due to climate change, it is urgent that we modernize the Griffin Dam to secure our drinking water supply and protect our residents from potential disaster.”