The water remains unsuitable for Olympic swimmers.
Bathing in the Seine in Paris has been banned for over a hundred years. However, the river is predicted to be clean enough for swimming during the upcoming Summer Olympics. But with limited time left, is it possible?
Nearly two months before the Summer Olympics in Paris, the Seine is apparently not yet swimmable, according to the non-governmental organization Surfrider. Surfrider reported that the levels of Enterococci and E. coli bacteria, which can be found in the digestive systems of humans and animals and enter rivers and lakes through waste, were still exceeding the norms.
During the Olympics, triathletes will be swimming in the Seine, and in August, open water swimming competitions are slated to take place in the river. Their starting point will be the breathtaking Pont Alexandre III bridge. Surfrider reported that the E. coli bacteria level in this location was over three times higher than the allowance set by swimming organizations.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is determined to cleanse the Seine before the Olympics. The city and organizers are relying on a massive overflow basin near Gare d'Austerlitz and a connection to the sewage system of numerous upper-stream properties. Yet, a heavy downpour right before the competitions could drastically compromise the water quality. Athletes would then be rescheduled for a few days if this were to happen.
Swimming in the Seine has been forbidden in Paris since 1923. After the Olympics, the city plans to create bathing areas for tourists during the summer. Since 2008, a public swimming pool has been set up in the Parisian Bassin de La Villette, which is supplied by a canal.
Read also:
- Floods: water levels remain critical in many places
- Snow chaos further restricts Bavaria
- Continuous operation in the flood areas
- Flood situation remains tense in many places
Source:
