McTavish reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McTavish reservoir |
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| General information | |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Architectural style | Châteauesque |
| Address | 815 Docteur-Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A5, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°30′20″N 73°34′44″W / 45.505529°N 73.578777°W |
| Completed | 1932 |
| Owner | City of Montreal |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions | Grounds: 37,477 m2 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 2,541 m2 |
The McTavish Reservoir (French: Réservoir McTavish) is a large underground water tank and park. It is named after Simon McTavish. You can find it on the campus of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This reservoir is on the side of Mount Royal.
The reservoir holds a huge amount of water, about 37 million gallons! Big pump-houses built in a special "Château Style" help supply water to it. On top of the reservoir is a green space called Rutherford Park. The McTavish Reservoir area also has an automatic weather station that reports local weather conditions.
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Discovering the McTavish Reservoir's Past
The city of Montreal decided to build this reservoir in 1852. This was after a terrible event called the Great Fire of 1852. This fire destroyed almost half the homes in the city. The previous reservoir, which was near what is now Saint-Louis Square, was closed for repairs when the fire started. This meant there wasn't enough water to fight the flames.
Building the Reservoir
Construction of the McTavish Reservoir took place between 1852 and 1856. The builders used the natural rock of the area to help hold the water. They also added stone walls on the south side. Over time, the reservoir was made bigger twice.
In 1957, the reservoir was covered up. The land on top was then turned into a park for people to enjoy. A steep rock face created during the building of the reservoir is now a popular spot for ice climbing in downtown Montreal.
Keeping the Water Safe
In 2008 and 2009, about nine million dollars were spent to improve the pump house and the reservoir. These upgrades were meant to make the water system safer and prevent water from getting dirty.
For a time, there were discussions about limiting public access to the park. However, as of March 2021, the park remains open for everyone to visit and enjoy.
Water Incidents at McGill University
The reservoir has caused some issues for McGill University over the years. In 2011, a pipe in the reservoir broke. This sent a lot of water flowing down towards the university buildings nearby.
This wasn't the first time McGill had problems during the reservoir's history. When the reservoir was being built in 1852, workers used explosives to clear rock. Some large rocks flew through the roof of the McGill College Building. This building is now known as the Arts Building. Staff and students had to quickly find a safe place.
Later, in January 2013, a serious flood happened on McGill University's downtown campus. Several buildings and streets were affected. This flood was also caused by water coming from the McTavish Reservoir.
