EPISODE · Sep 12, 2025 · 45 MIN
Episode 9: Chicago's Backwards River
from H2O and Beyond · host Alex Han
TIMESTAMPS BELOW 👇In this Episode of H2O and Beyond, join Mr. Dick Lanyon, former executive director of the Chicago MWRD, as we talk about how Chicago managed to reverse the flow of its river! In the mid-late 1800s, the Chicago River, heavily polluted with human waste, flowed into Lake Michigan, the only water source for residents at the time. Waste began to accumulate in Lake Michigan, and so Ellis Chesbrough, the chief engineer of the city, devised a radical plan to reverse the flow of the river to divert the waste away. 0:00 Intro2:10 What was happening in Chicago in the 1800s?6:52 Consideration of possible solutions8:01 Logistics of reversing the river14:18 Construction begins20:03 Role of immigrants in construction24:38 What changed for Chicago?29:28 Consequences on the communities downstream32:24 Invasive species infiltrating the river37:38 State of the river today43:25 Closing🎧 Listen to more episodes & follow us here: https://linktr.ee/h2oandbeyondFeedback Form: https://forms.gle/RNjdFLY2wSrk7PW2AFollow the MWRD socials!https://mwrd.org/https://www.instagram.com/mwrd_of_greater_chicago/?hl=enIf you liked this episode, please Like and Subscribe!
What this episode covers
TIMESTAMPS BELOW 👇In this Episode of H2O and Beyond, join Mr. Dick Lanyon, former executive director of the Chicago MWRD, as we talk about how Chicago managed to reverse the flow of its river! In the mid-late 1800s, the Chicago River, heavily polluted with human waste, flowed into Lake Michigan, the only water source for residents at the time. Waste began to accumulate in Lake Michigan, and so Ellis Chesbrough, the chief engineer of the city, devised a radical plan to reverse the flow of the river to divert the waste away. 0:00 Intro2:10 What was happening in Chicago in the 1800s?6:52 Consideration of possible solutions8:01 Logistics of reversing the river14:18 Construction begins20:03 Role of immigrants in construction24:38 What changed for Chicago?29:28 Consequences on the communities downstream32:24 Invasive species infiltrating the river37:38 State of the river today43:25 Closing🎧 Listen to more episodes & follow us here: https://linktr.ee/h2oandbeyondFeedback Form: https://forms.gle/RNjdFLY2wSrk7PW2AFollow the MWRD socials!https://mwrd.org/https://www.instagram.com/mwrd_of_greater_chicago/?hl=enIf you liked this episode, please Like and Subscribe!
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Episode 9: Chicago's Backwards River
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