>>> DURING YOUR MORNING ON THE LAKEFRONT YOU PROBABLY FOUND YOURSELF ASKING WHAT THOSE STRANGE STRUCTURES ARE STANDING OUT IN LAKE MICHIGAN.

OUR LATEST EDITION OF WTTW NEWS EXPLAINS -- HAS THE ANSWER FOR YOU.

HERE IS PATTY ON THE HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF CHICAGO'S WATER CRIBS.

>> TOWARD THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AS CHICAGO'S POPULATION STARTED TO BLOOM WATER FROM THE CHICAGO RIVER AND LAKE MICHIGAN WAS POLLUTED WITH RAW SEWA GE, CHEMICALS AND ROTTING ANIMAL CARCAS SES FROM THE STOCKYARD CAUSING SICKNESS.

ENTER THE FIRST CITY ENGINEER AND DESIGNER OF THE WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM WE STILL USE TODAY.

THE PLAN, BUILD AN OFF SHORE STRUCTURE CALLED A CRIB TO ACT AS A STRAW AND BRING CLEAN WATER FROM OUT ON THE LAKE INTO THE CITY.

SOUNDS SIMPLE, RIGHT?

NOT SO MUCH.

HE HAD ONE CREW WORKING ON THE SHORE DIGGING 200 FEET BELOW THE LAKE BOTTOM, A SECOND CREW BUILDING A WATER INTAKE CRIB TWO MILES OUT ON THE LAKE, DIGGING DOWN AND WEST FROM THERE INCHING TOWARD THE OTHER TUNNEL.

REMEMBER IT'S 1864 SO IT WAS DONE BY HAND USING PICKS, SHOVELS AND MULES, 24 HOURS A DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK.

FAST FORWARD TWO YEARS AND THE TWO CREWS FINALLY MET IN THE MIDDLE.

THEY WERE ONLY SEVEN AND A HALF INCHES OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF FRESH, UNPOLLUTED WATER SOARED IN.

AFTER THE GRATE CHICAGO FIRE OF 1871 THE CITY DECIDED TO BUILD MORE WATER CRIBS TO SPREAD OUT THE WATER SUPPLY FOR FIRE PROTECTION.

ALL IN ALL NINE CRIBS WERE BUILT OFF CHICAGO'S SHORES.

TODAY SIX OF THOSE CRIBS ARE STILL STANDING BUT ONLY TWO ARE IN ACTIVE USE.

THEY STILL PULL WATER THROUGH THE TUNNELS # HUNDRED FEET BELOW THE LAKE IN TO THE TWO WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

FROM THERE THE WATER GOES TO THE CITY'S 12 PUMPING STATIONS WHICH PRESSURE EYES AND PUSH THE WATER OUT ALONG THE 4300 MILES OF WATER MAINS STRAIGHT TO YOUR TAP.

THE NEXT TIME YOU TAKE A DRINK OR WASH YOUR HANDS THINK ABOUT THE CRIBS AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY'S UNSUNG HEROES.

BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS