It is effortless to remove the water reservoir in 2 minutes for cleaning etc. Filling water is on top, though. Pull out drip tray, disengage portafilter, pull the silver solenoid tube on left out. Pull and remove reservoir front tilting slightly. When reinstalling it, make sure the two plastic tubes are in the tank. One tube is water inflow and should go to the bottom. The other tube is overpressure release OPV. It just needs to be in a tank though being on the bottom is not a must for an OPV tube.