14/10/2012 14:59 | By Tamara Hinson, contributor, MSN Travel
Simply spectacular waterways

The Chicago river, Illinois, US

The Chicago river, Illinois, US (© John Lindsey)
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The Chicago river is famous for several reasons - it's dyed green every March for St Patrick's day, and it also looks set to become one of America's first officially swimmable urban rivers. Last year, the US Environmental Protection Agency approved Illinois' revised water quality standards and city officials hope that this will allow certain sections to be used for swimming.

The banks of this river are home to some of America's most famous buildings, including Union Station and the Willis Tower, which was the tallest building in the world when it was completed in 1973.

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61Comments
Gordon Thompson (gatgip)
15/10/2012 11:37
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Not practical. Stupid idea, dreamt up by stupid over paid idiots with nothing better to do. Whats wrong with putting a cycle path there instead  ? Or is that too simple and cheap?
neil coolledge
15/10/2012 10:41
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Yeah that is a great idea until some drunken bum pisses in it
kelly webb
15/10/2012 12:13
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What a lovely idea... and how are you going to stop drunken yobs in a evening from urinating / being sick and throwing rubbish into the water..... id rather have my face in someones sweaty armpit
Garry Coles (Gazzamuppet)
15/10/2012 10:52
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A bit late with this aren't they? April 1st was ages ago!
Dave Cox
15/10/2012 10:31
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Why don't the government give the money back to the poor, instead of stealing it from them for fool hardy ideas like this.

 

Nathan Miller
15/10/2012 11:25
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Using the waterways is a potentially a good idea, perhaps operate a boat bus or alternative, something with seating and heating that can be used all year round. I mean come on, people swimming to work.. it's just dumb.

Dee Kingston (.Deecoco)
15/10/2012 12:57
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Try swimming home when you have had a few... !! that should keep the emergency teams busy
graham Chilmaid (graham435)
15/10/2012 10:35
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Regents Canal ???????     That canal is hardly wide enough for narrowboats. How are they going to put a swimming lane in it, and what will they do with all the moored boats. What a stupid idea and a total waste of money.

 

Alice
15/10/2012 16:05
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The last thing I want is to see a beer bellied business man in his speedos!
alex hartley
15/10/2012 15:39
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politicians must wake up smoke a big bowl of crack and go to work
Pauline H (rutlandbelle)
15/10/2012 12:38
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I had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn't April 1st. 

Cheryl Geddes
15/10/2012 15:05
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Hahaha another stupid idea  - Taxpayers paying for it no doubt????

chad cartwright
15/10/2012 10:42
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And just how far is this swim, I seem to recall the last time i used a train it was for a 5 mile journey, Bonkers idea.
John Mumbles
15/10/2012 16:18
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And when someone accidentally pisses or worse ****'s themselves in said basin, then what happens? Loads of floaters all the way back to Camden!
pete pearse (pixee)
15/10/2012 12:17
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so who,s going to break the ice then in the winter ? A cycle path is a far better idea , maybe even for walkers as well.
Dave Cox
15/10/2012 10:35
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The way the weather is turning it would be ideal for skating to work. Should break the ice with some bosses.
christina hughes (chrysta.h)
15/10/2012 14:58
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Another stupid idea must be another one from the condemnation party.

Or as Forest Gump said My mother said stupid is as stupid does.

L Slater (Situation Normal)
15/10/2012 10:48
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Whatever next, Marty McFly's Hoverboard?!
paul pattison (PaulPat)
15/10/2012 12:19
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I think all the laptops and I-Phones might get a bit wet; keep it away from the canal but let them pay the Canal and River Trust for the water they use to help pay for improved towpaths/cycleways and improving the existing canal infrastructure....

Whatever drunken idiot dreamt up this idea needs to take a cold bath - the canal would be ideal and the water quality is probably better than most people realise......!

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