It holds 37 million gallons of water and is supplied by its large Châteauesque style pump-houses situated in the south-eastern corner of the park.

Atop the reservoir is Rutherford Park, and it is also the location of the McTavish automated weather reporting station (CWTA, 71612).

[2][3] The McTavish reservoir was constructed from 1852 to 1856 and uses the natural rock of the site to hold water, with some masonry on the south side.

[7] The city of Montreal attempted to close the park in 2009 and restrict access to the public, citing escalating terrorist threats after the September 11 attacks as the rationale for the non-publicly consulted decision.

In 2011, a pipe in the reservoir burst, sending a torrent of water down to the adjacent McGill University campus.