Our Daily Bread http://odb.org Living Backward Jennifer Benson Schuldt December 16, 2013 The Chicago River is unusual because it flows backward. Engineers reversed its direction over a century ago because city-dwellers were using it as a dump. Dishwater, sewage, and industrial waste all funneled into the river, which emptied into Lake Michigan. Since the lake supplied drinking water for the city, thousands grew sick and died before city authorities decided to redirect the river to flow backward, away from the lake.

by JoshE | Dec 16, 2013 | Uncategorized