Rivers are often times the more utilitarian of the different types of bodies of water. Oceans and lakes are thought of as fun places to partake in water sports, go for a swim, or just relax on their sandy beaches, and ponds are seen as serene and relaxing spots to go fishing or to sit back and enjoy the wildlife. Meanwhile, rivers are often viewed as the highways of the water world; they are connectors and pathways to something bigger and better. Boats and barges travel up and down them as they make their way to or from an ocean or lake leading to heavy traffic and plenty of pollution.
Sure, maybe we walk along riverwalks or enjoy lunch on an outdoor patio where the rushing water can be heard, but, thanks to the heavy water traffic and pollution, rivers are often only enjoyed as ambiance, not as a place to actually take a dip and cool down on a hot summer day.
Some cities, however, are trying to return these heavily polluted and trafficked rivers back into swimmable destinations for the enjoyment of locals and visitors alike. New York has a proposed floating pool for one of its rivers and river pools already exist in cities like Zurich, Berlin, and Paris, and now, the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia is looking to join this list.
According to inhabitat.com, the non-profit organization Yarra Swim Co. is looking to make the heavily polluted Yarra River swimmable once more. One of the first major steps they are taking to achieve this goal is to work with Arup to develop a Yarra River pool. While, technically, swimming in the pool wouldn’t be the same thing as swimming in the Yarra, it would be the first step in bringing swimming back to the waterway.
The plans call for a self-contained pool that floats in the Yarra River, however, Arup and Yarra Swim Co. are looking into ways to filter and clean the surrounding water so that it can be used to supply the water in the pool, which is kind of like swimming in the river itself, right? Currently, Arup says there is a patent pending for this type of technology.
Yarra Swim Co. hopes the pool will help to change public opinion about the polluted waterway and be the push needed to rally people around the idea of cleaning the river for good. Ultimately, Yarra Swim Co. hopes the river can be cleaned thoroughly enough so the race to Prince's Bridge, which was once one of the largest swimming competitions in the world, can once again be held.
Funds to build the pool, which, in Australian dollars would cost around $6 and $8 million, may be raised through a combination of crowdfunding, sponsorships, and grants. If all goes according to plan, the pool could be open to the public by 2019 or 2020.
So while people may not be swimming in the Yarra anytime in the near future (at least, not without imbibing in a few rounds of liquid courage first), the pool, especially if the patent pending technology works, could be the first step in the overall process of making the Yarra River swimmable once again.
Photo Credit: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons
Related Stories
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Stantec, HDR, and HOK top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.
| Jul 23, 2014
Meet Acquario Ceará: The giant crustacean-shaped aquarium that's causing concerns
A new aquarium on Brazil's northeastern coast is designed, engineered, constructed and financed by U.S. firms and institutions.
| Jul 23, 2014
Architecture Billings Index up nearly a point in June
AIA reported the June ABI score was 53.5, up from a mark of 52.6 in May.
| Jul 21, 2014
Economists ponder uneven recovery, weigh benefits of big infrastructure [2014 Giants 300 Report]
According to expert forecasters, multifamily projects, the Panama Canal expansion, and the petroleum industry’s “shale gale” could be saving graces for commercial AEC firms seeking growth opportunities in an economy that’s provided its share of recent disappointments.
| Jul 18, 2014
Contractors warm up to new technologies, invent new management schemes [2014 Giants 300 Report]
“UAV.” “LATISTA.” “CMST.” If BD+C Giants 300 contractors have anything to say about it, these new terms may someday be as well known as “BIM” or “LEED.” Here’s a sampling of what Giant GCs and CMs are doing by way of technological and managerial innovation.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Construction Management Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, Barton Malow, Hill International top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest construction management and project management firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Contractors [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Turner, Whiting-Turner, Skanska top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest contractors in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Engineering firms look to bolster growth through new services, technology [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Following solid revenue growth in 2013, the majority of U.S.-based engineering and engineering/architecture firms expect more of the same this year, according to BD+C’s 2014 Giants 300 report.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Engineering/Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, AECOM, Parsons Brinckerhoff top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest engineering/architecture firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Engineering Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Fluor, Arup, Day & Zimmermann top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest engineering firms in the United States.
