Try to wrap your mind around this: in 1920, the municipal sewer system drained directly into the Huron River.No water treatment plant. No filter. No sterilization, purification, or de-ickyfication.
Swim, anyone?
In October of 1920, the water level dropped and the effluent was piling up in the Huron. The aroma wafted over area homes. Delightful when you're sitting down to your home-cooked meal or snuggling into bed. In 1920, the population of Ypsilanti was around 7,500. So that's 7,500 "donations" to the problem every day--more if on a high-fiber diet.
Luckily winter was right around the corner.
Stay tuned for more entries into the Effluent Chronicles.
