The reservoir lies at the head of the Kinder Valley, 278 metres (912 ft) above sea level and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the north east of the village of Hayfield.

[3] The reservoir is fed by the River Kinder and by the stream flowing over several small cascades down William Clough valley, which is owned by the National Trust.

[4] Stockport Corporation engaged Abram Kellet of Ealing to build Kinder Reservoir, to supplement the local public water supply.

Following financial disputes in the courts, Stockport Corporation terminated its contract with Kellets and appointed G H Hill and Sons in 1908 to complete the construction.

[6] Despite the Kinder filter house being a "notable" example of early 20th-century municipal architecture,[7] photographic evidence shows the present owners have allowed it to fall into disrepair.