June 18, 2012 – (Above) Two refuse collectors for the Chicago Park District react to being photographed on June 3. What appears to be water from the hopper of their truck is allowed to drain onto a busy sidewalk and into Lake Michigan.

(Below) Closer view of water draining from the truck. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

Garbage trucks are not designed to hold fluids, which collect from garbage when it is compacted. Periodically, this fluid needs to be drained but preferably into a sewer. The Chicago Park District could not explain why this was being released onto a busy sidewalk and into Lake Michigan. When contacted two weeks ago, Communications Director Jessica Maxey-Faulkner asked for copies of these photos but did not respond further.