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Wastewater Treatment
Throughout the 19th century people lived in filth, disposing of garbage and raw sewage by dumping it into streets, alleys and waterways. As a result, they often suffered from such deadly diseases as cholera and typhus. Until the early 1900s, America's urban wastewater, including industrial waste, was dumped into the nation's waterways. Few municipalities treated wastewater, as it was widely believed that running water purified itself. Ironically, with the implementation of water treatment supply systems, the need for uncontaminated water supplies decreased, and the nation's waterways became more polluted. As recently as 1968, the city of St. Louis discharged 300 million gallons per day of raw waste into the Mississippi River. By 1972, only one-third of U.S. waterways were safe for drinking and fishing. With the advent of wastewater treatment, cities became much more equipped to deal with population influx. Such innovations as activated sludge treatment allow for the maintenance of high levels of water quality. Wastewater treatment led to an increase in life expectancy, reduction in infant mortality and morbidity, control and prevention of communicable diseases, and improvements to the aquatic environment, enabling the public to enjoy water sports and maintain a healthy ecosystem for marine life. Chicago Wastewater System: A Monument of the Millennium
September 19, 2001 The reversal of the Chicago River, completed in 1900, enabled Chicago to continue its growth and progress after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Additional Information
http://www.chicagoriver.org/
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/illinois/chicago/field/
http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/timeline/riverflow.html
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/tourism/downtown/ChicagoRiver.html ASCE does not endorse any of the above Web sites. They are presented here for informational purposes only.
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