In a thrilling experience that changed the relationship Chicagoans have with their river, nearly 300 adventurous souls jumped into the cold, murky waters of the Chicago River on an unseasonably chilly August morning. This was the first deliberate, orchestrated swim in almost a century! Participants took on a mile-long looping swim, one of the many swimmers last Saturday. This thrilling event represents a major turnaround as the waterway recently viewed as too polluted to use becomes an integral part of the city’s landscape.
The Chicago River is a 156-mile (265 km) waterway connecting Lake Michigan directly to the middle of the city. For decades the once vibrant river has been a point of civic pride and environmental focus. Beautifully wild and feral, the river has faced significant human alteration in its history. In 1900, city officials altered its flow by constructing a system of canals and locks to protect the drinking water supply from pollution. In the process, the river became known for its noxious waters, triggering deadly epidemics of cholera and typhoid fever. People began referring to it as “the stinking river.” As a consequence, most of the buildings lining its shores opted for no windows overlooking the water at all.
Despite its troubled past, the river’s condition began improving following the enactment of the Clean Water Act and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the 1970s. These regulations cut pollution from industrial and municipal sources by 95%. Even greater challenges were yet to come. • In 2004, a bridge grate failure caused 800 pounds (363 kg) of human waste to fall into the waters.
Not surprisingly, organizers of the recent wave swim event went through meticulous planning and preparation to mitigate risk. In the weeks leading up to the swim, they performed extensive testing on the river’s water quality. Each time they tested, it passed EPA standard for fecal coliform. Doug McConnell, the lead organizer of the event, was hopeful that this swim will prove historic.
“I think the water conditions will surprise people because it will be cleaner than they expect,” – Doug McConnell
McConnell has worked for more than a decade to establish a real competitive swimming venue in the river. Alex shared with us how the story of the river has changed over the years.
“The psychology of so many Chicagoans was that the river is untouchable – this isn’t true and we are proving this today,” – Doug McConnell
Among those who swam in the competition was Olympic gold medalist Olivia Smoliga, who noted that there was an exciting competitive spirit surrounding the event.
“You have people throwing elbows there – you have to watch out for fingernail length, everything,” – Olivia Smoliga
The event welcomed dozens of local residents and received applications from around the entire United States. Participants joined us from as far afield as 13 other countries, a testament to its global appeal. McConnell mentioned that his grandfather lived in Chicago in an era when the river was thought to be poisonous.
“My grandfather grew up in Chicago and I think what his reaction would be because the river had an absolutely toxic reputation then. It was repulsive, absolutely untouchable,” – Doug McConnell
Margaret Frisbie, Executive Director of Friends of the Chicago River, emphasized the importance of vigilance in maintaining water quality as urban development continues.
“If the federal government retreats from enforcement, things could slide backwards,” – Margaret Frisbie
Frisbie’s description of the emotional attachment that individuals have gained for the river.
“It’s incumbent on cities, countries and states to be vigilant. Our river is beloved now – people want to use it, wildlife needs it, we need it. We want to maintain that rather than see it roll back,” – Margaret Frisbie
The swim event represents not only a celebration of progress but an acknowledgment of ongoing challenges in ensuring clean waterways for future generations. As participants emerged from the water, many expressed a sense of accomplishment and pride in reclaiming a once-reviled part of their city’s identity.