Building the Canal to Save Chicago

Chicago is a city that grew and prospered because of the vision and pioneering effort of its local leaders who conceived, financed, and implemented the reversal of the flow in the Chicago River to preserve public health and protect its source water, Lake Michigan. After more than a century of service, the man-made canal system continues to provide economy and efficiency in water transportation, protect public health and welfare by efficient drainage of treated wastewater and urban storm water, offer an amenity for waterfront property, allow reuse of water for industrial cooling, and be an outlet for those seeking water recreation in an intense urban setting. The first project to build a canal to reverse the flow of the Chicago River has proven to be a monumental and lasting effort.