Why did they construct an electric barrier at the mouth of the Illinois River?
Construction of the CSSC allowed the reversal of the flow direction in the Chicago River and accommodated increased shipping. The Electric Barriers are operated to deter the inter-basin establishment of Asian carp and other fish via the CSSC by maintaining an electric field in the water.
How do electric fish barriers work?
The basic electric fish barrier is an array of electrodes submerged in the water perpendicular to flow, connected to pulse generators and a power source above the water. When the pulse generators release current, voltage is applied between two electrodes, creating an electric field across the section of water.
Does Chicago River flow into Lake Michigan?
Chicago Sanitary and Ship CanalChicago River / Mouth
Did the Chicago River flow backwards?
Chicago River Mouth When raw sewage and other pollutants were dumped in the river, they flowed into Chicago’s primary source of drinking water. As the city grew, fear of disease spread, and officials decided to permanently reverse the river’s flow, sending its polluted water to the Mississippi River instead.
When was America electrified?
Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and other inventors began introducing practical electric power systems in the 1880s. By the 1920s most cities and towns in America received electricity from either privately owned or municipal utility companies.
Can rivers run south to north?
While it is true that most rivers flow south, some rivers actually flow from south to north. Since the direction of flow is influenced mostly by topography, some headwaters or sources (mountains) are located to the south of the mouth or destination. In this case, the river will flow in a northerly direction.
Does the Chicago River flow backwards?
For most of its history, the Chicago River sluggishly moved water from the plains to Lake Michigan. When raw sewage and other pollutants were dumped in the river, they flowed into Chicago’s primary source of drinking water.
Who is ComEd owned by?
Exelon Corporation
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 100 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers.
Do electric barriers work to keep fish out of the Illinois River?
As far as researchers know, the electric barriers have been successful — so far. But the fish already number in the millions on the Illinois River, not far from Chicago. In 2010, a fisherman caught a live bighead carp miles beyond the electric barrier. In 2017, another one caught a silver carp in a similar location.
How do electric barriers keep fish out of the water?
Electric Barriers. Equipment in the control building generates a direct current pulse through the electrodes, creating an electric field in the water that discourages fish from crossing. Laboratory and tagged-fish study results show that the electric barriers are an effective fish deterrent.
Where are the electric barriers located?
The Electric Barriers are located near Romeoville, Ill., in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) within the CAWS. The CSSC is a man-made hydrologic connection between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins that was completed in the early 20th century to address sanitation and flooding.