From the 1920s forward, the National Parks of Canada began to focus on the economic benefits of accessible, mass marketable tourism.
Changes included new highways and the creation of storage reservoirs for the water needed to sustain the burgeoning community.
The Bow River was now seen both for its aesthetic qualities and for new utilitarian aspects.

By the 1950s Banff's raw sewage began to be discharged into the Bow River.
Because of the self-purification powers of the cold, braided water, however, the Bow was incredibly effective as a natural sewage-treatment facility.
Tourists and residents were often unaware of the transformation of the Bow River into a sewage system.

As Banff continued to grow, the river continued to digest the increased volume of sewage.
This practice, however, began to touch an ideological nerve among the tourists and residents of Banff.
Pouring raw sewage into one of the main attractions of the park polluted both the river and, more importantly, the image of Banff.
There was also fear that continued reliance on the Bow as a natural sewer would either cap the development of Banff or eventually have great risk to public health.
By the 1960s, the town built a modern sewage facility and stopped releasing untreated waters into the Bow.
The river's aesthetic qualities had increasing priority in terms of effects of development within the borders of a National Park.
From the 1920s forward, the National Parks of Canada began to focus on the economic benefits of accessible, mass marketable tourism. Changes included new highways and the creation of storage reservoirs for the water needed to sustain the burgeoning community. The Bow River was now seen both for its aesthetic qualities and for new utilitarian aspects.
By the 1950s Banff's raw sewage began to be discharged into the Bow River. Because of the self-purification powers of the cold, braided water, however, the Bow was incredibly effective as a natural sewage-treatment facility. Tourists and residents were often unaware of the transformation of the Bow River into a sewage system.
As Banff continued to grow, the river continued to digest the increased volume of sewage. This practice, however, began to touch an ideological nerve among the tourists and residents of Banff. Pouring raw sewage into one of the main attractions of the park polluted both the river and, more importantly, the image of Banff. There was also fear that continued reliance on the Bow as a natural sewer would either cap the development of Banff or eventually have great risk to public health. By the 1960s, the town built a modern sewage facility and stopped releasing untreated waters into the Bow. The river's aesthetic qualities had increasing priority in terms of effects of development within the borders of a National Park.
Bow River