Waterway Experiences a Flash Flood - Will Paris' water be clean enough for Olympic swimmers?
Is the Seine clean enough for swimming during the upcoming Olympics in Paris? This is a hotly debated topic in the city, with organizers intending to hold competitions in the river's heart. Starting from the following year, swimming in the Seine will be allowed for Parisians again. Although a billion-euro investment aimed at cleaner water has been made, lab tests continue to raise concerns. With the heavy rainfalls of the past months, wastewater has entered the Seine.
The swimming debate has now shifted from city hall discussions to the Elysee Palace, as the Olympic swim in the Seine against the Parisian backdrop promises breathtaking images viewed globally. On top of Mayor Anne Hidalgo, President Emmanuel Macron has also announced that he plans to dive into the Seine before the commencement of the games. Initially scheduled for June 23, Hidalgo and a group were set to swim together, including Chief Laurent Nunez and Ile-de-France's prefect, Marc Guillaume. There is talk of postponing this event by a week. The chosen date will undoubtedly turn into a media sensation, with uncertainties surrounding Macron's participation.
1.4 billion euros have been invested in wastewater treatment infrastructure in the Paris region. Crucial to this project is the Austerlitz retention basin, which can hold up to 50,000 cubic meters of rain and sewage during heavy weather and prevent wastewater discharge into the Seine. While there is optimism at City Hall regarding the Olympic swimming plans, environmental tests commissioned by Surfrider association only rate the Seine poorly. "Out of the 14 samples collected, only one was found to have acceptable water quality at that specific location after tests conducted both on rainy and sunny days," stated the organization.
Even athletes are concerned about the quality of the water. Brazilian Olympic open water swimming champion Ana Marcela Cunha has urged Olympic organizers to come up with a "Plan B" in case the competitions cannot take place in the Seine due to poor water quality. "It's not about trying to erase the Seine's history, but the health of the athletes should be prioritized," she said.
Paris has been conducting daily water tests since early June, with the outcomes released weekly. By July, the number of control stations is anticipated to increase to 35. The city also hopes for better weather. The Seine is currently flowing at more than four times its usual rate, impacting the efficiency of sewage treatment plants and making the water treatment more challenging. Lack of sunlight also affects water quality as it usually kills intestinal bacteria.
The dream of swimming in the Seine in Paris has long been cherished. The practice was prohibited in 1923. The proposed dive into the Seine will be delayed "30 years after Jacques Chirac's promise," said Hidalgo. Way back in 1990, the then mayor and former president, Chirac, had promised that Parisians could swim in the Seine again by 1993, but this did not happen. Three swimming pools are set to be constructed around 2025, one near the Eiffel Tower.
The decision to allow swimming in the Seine has drawn both mockery and criticism. Mockery has been targeted at the Olympic swimming plans, while a campaign advocating urination in the Seine on June 23 (#jeachedanslaseinele23juin) has gained momentum on social media. Although the author's identity is unknown, and the campaign's credibility is uncertain, it seeks to undermine Hidalgo's swimming experience. Critics argue that a billion euros have been invested to allow athletes to swim in the Seine, but those funds could have been more productively allocated elsewhere in the city.
In the meantime, thriller film "Sous la Seine" (Under the Seine) promotions have surfaced in the Parisian metro, offering thrilling fictional shark dangers in the Seine before a triathlon competition. The film is already being aired internationally. Director Xavier Gens shared with BFMTV that they made every effort to launch the movie before the Olympics (July 26 to August 11).
