The reservoir is an impounded lake holding raw water. It is dammed with a soilembankment consisting of a puddle clay core. It rises up to 15 metres (49 ft), holds a total water capacity of 177,000 m3 (39,000,000 imp gal).
The contract to build the reservoir was signed in 1875, with a cost of 722290. The plans are described to be "commendably brief", only containing seven items. One of the drawings was later found in 1984 to have been drawn on the back of a print for various Mersey crossing proposals including a suspension bridge and two tunnels.[2]
The reservoir was constructed in 1878 by the Wrexham Waterworks Company, it is operated by Hafren Dyfrdwy on behalf of Severn Trent.[3]
The reservoir is part of the Ty Mawr/Cae Llwyd/Pen-y-Cae Reservoir System, one of the two reservoir systems by Hafren Dyfrdwy to supply the Wrexham Resource Zone.[4]
There is a Scouting site located next to the reservoir.[5]
^Tedd, P., ed. (2000). Dams 2000: Proceedings of the Biennial Conference of the BDS Held at the University of Bath on 14-17 June 2000. British Dam Society. p. 68.