McTavish reservoir

The McTavish reservoir (French: Réservoir McTavish), named for Simon McTavish, is an underground reservoir and park located within McGill University's campus on the southern slope of Mount Royal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It holds 37 million gallons of water and is supplied by its large Château Style pump-houses located in the south-eastern corner of the park. Atop the reservoir is Rutherford Park. It also is the location of the McTavish automated weather reporting station (CWTA, 71612).

McTavish reservoir
General information
TypeReservoir
Architectural styleChâteauesque
Address815 Docteur-Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A5, Canada
Coordinates45.505529°N 73.578777°W / 45.505529; -73.578777
Completed1932
OwnerCity of Montreal
Dimensions
Other dimensionsGrounds: 37,477 m2
Technical details
Floor area2,541 m2[1]

History
The McTavish reservoir as it appeared in 1873, uncovered. Cupola of McGill College Building (now called the Arts Building) visible at left.

The city of Montreal decided to construct the reservoir in 1852, after a devastating fire that destroyed almost half the houses in the city. The fire had broken out while the previous reservoir, located at what is now Saint-Louis Square, was closed for repairs.[2][3]

The reservoir was constructed between 1852 and 1856 and uses the natural rock of the site to hold water, with some masonry on the south of the reservoir. The McTavish reservoir was increased in size twice after its initial construction.[4] It was subsequently covered in 1957 and the terrain on top used for recreation (Rutherford Park).[5] The cliff created in the construction of the reservoir is used as an ice climbing location in downtown Montreal.[6]

Nine million dollars was spent in 2008–2009 on upgrading the pump house and reservoir for infrastructure security and preventing water contamination, but the security features have proven to be ineffective and easily infiltrated.[7] The city of Montreal has subsequently attempted to close the park in 2009 and restrict access to the public, citing escalating terrorist threats from the September 11 attacks as the rationale for the non-publicly consulted decision.[8] The park remains accessible as of March 2021.

In 2011, a pipe in the reservoir burst, sending a torrent of water down to the adjacent McGill University.[9] It was not the first time that the reservoir has caused damage to McGill: during its construction in 1852, blasting propelled large rocks through the roof of the McGill College Building, now its Arts Building, causing staff and students to seek refuge.

In January 2013, a severe flooding on the downtown campus of McGill University affecting several buildings and streets in the downtown area was caused by water coming from the McTavish reservoir.[10]

See also

References
  1. (in French) Communauté Urbaine de Montréal, Répertoire d'architecture traditionnelle sur le territoire de la Communauté Urbaine de Montréal : Les édifices publics, Service de la planification du territoire (CUM), 1987, 309 p.
  2. Kalbfleisch, John (12 July 2003). "The Great Fire of Montreal". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. "Le Plateau historique : Carré Saint-Louis". L'Avenue du Mont-Royal (in French). Société de Développement de l'avenue du Mont-Royal. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. DeWolf, Christopher (December 11, 2007), "The McTavish Reservoir exposed", Spacingmontreal, Spacing Media Inc., archived from the original on February 15, 2012, retrieved December 21, 2011
  5. THINK TANK DRINK TANK:Existing Reservoir and Pump House, McGill School of Architecture, 2002
  6. SINNOTT, SHANE (2008), "Frozen ascent: You can practise ice climbing in Montreal and then scale waterfalls and cliff-faces all over Quebec", Montreal Mirror, Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltée., 23 (32)
  7. Heffez, Alanah (March 5, 2009), "McTavish Revisited...after $9M in security measures.", Spacingmontreal, Spacing Media Inc., archived from the original on February 15, 2012, retrieved December 21, 2011
  8. LALONDE, MICHELLE (May 2, 2009), "City to close second downtown park:Rutherford Park is part of security plan", Montreal Gazette, Postmedia Network Inc.
  9. Hudson, Erin (September 9, 2011), "McTavish Reservoir floods lower campus: McLennan Library, Wilson Hall, and Service Point flooded", McGill Daily
  10. "Severe flooding on downtown campus". Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
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