Mayor Daley expressed his frustration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommendation to make the Chicago River clean enough to swim in by proclaiming they should “go swim in the Potomac”. His remarks came on Wednesday, in response to an April 15th letter from the EPA. The letter, which was delivered to the Illinois Pollution and Control Board, suggests that the local and state governments clean up the river enough for recreational use in the water. Currently, only recreational use on the river, like fishing or boating, is permitted.
Chicago Tonight interviewed Richard Lanyon, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Henry Henderson, Director of the Midwest Office for the National Resource Defense Council, to get their take on the feasibility of the EPA’s recommendation.
View Chicago River in map
I feel sorry for Richard Lanyon. He has to argue in favor of keeping the Chicago River filled with bacteria — the kind that will give you food poisoning or worse. Cleveland doesn’t do this. Gary can keep their water clean. But the MWRD feels it is in the public interest to keep the water dirty. The MWRD board votes on these issues.
Contact the board and let them know what you think:
Barbara J. McGowan Commissioner 11/3/1998 12/7/2010 (312) 751-5640 Barbara.McGowan@mwrdgc.dst.il.us
Cynthia M. Santos Commissioner 11/5/1996 12/2/2014 (312) 751-5685 Cynthia.Santos@mwrdgc.dst.il.us
Debra Shore Commissioner 11/7/2006 12/4/2012 (312) 751-5690 Debra.Shore@mwrdgc.dst.il.us
Frank Avila Commissioner 11/5/2002 12/2/2014 (312) 751-5620 frank.avila@mwrdgc.dst.il.us
Gloria Alitto Majewski Chairman of Finance 11/6/1984 12/7/2010 (312) 751-5665 Gloria.Majewski@mwrdgc.dst.il.us
Kathleen Therese Meany Vice-President 11/6/1990 12/2/2014 (312) 751-5646 Kathleen.Meany@mwrdgc.dst.il.us
Mariyana T. Spyropoulos Commissioner 8/5/2009 12/7/2010 (312) 751-5650 Mariyana.Spyropoulos@mwrdgc.dst.il.us
Patricia Horton Commissioner 11/7/2006 12/4/2012 (312) 751-5694 Patricia.Horton@mwrdgc.dst.il.us
Terrence J. O’Brien President Board of Commissioners 11/8/1988 12/4/2012 (312) 751-5700 terrence.obrien@mwrdgc.dst.il.us
The entertainment is always a funny business.