How a public health crisis forced a city to flip its river
In short: Watch this documentary explore one of the most daring engineering feats in American history: Chicago's decision to literally reverse the flow of a major river to save its population from disease.
During the 19th century, Chicago transformed from a frontier town into a massive Midwest metropolis. This rapid growth created a deadly byproduct: residents and businesses dumped sewage and waste directly into the Chicago River. Because the river flowed into Lake Michigan—the city's primary source of drinking water—this pollution caused widespread disease and death.
To solve this public health crisis, officials proposed an audacious design to reshape the natural world by reversing the river's flow away from the lake. The documentary covers the history of this bold solution and its role in preserving the city's survival.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Race to Reverse the River — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Also: Chicago Stories | The Race to Reverse the River | Season 3
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