2024 Olympics - Water of the Seine clean enough for swimming according to recent studies
Approximately three weeks before the start of the Olympics Games in Paris, the water quality of the Seine is now sufficient to organize swimming competitions as planned. The water quality has improved and meets European standards, according to a report released by the city and region for the week of June 24 to July 2, as reported by French media.
In the week prior, the water quality was insufficient due to heavy rainfall and low temperatures. However, the Olympic organizers had emphasized that they were counting on good water quality once summer weather with high temperatures and less rain took over. As higher temperatures and a lower water level in the Seine lead to faster decomposition of disease-carrying organisms.
Billion-dollar investment in water quality for Olympics and long-term
To improve the water quality in the river with regards to the Games and long-term, around 1.4 billion Euros have been invested in sewage treatment plants and the wastewater system in the Paris region. This includes a recently commissioned retention basin. This basin can prevent the usual practice of discharging wastewater into the Seine during heavy rainfall.
Swimming national team coach Bernd Berkhahn hopes for the organization of the Olympic open water swimming races in the Parisian Seine despite potential water quality issues. "The race in the Seine is a great challenge in terms of its demands. It requires a great deal of effort in training. I hope these efforts were not in vain," Berkhahn said in an interview released by the German Swimming Federation. "I would also like to experience the race in this atmosphere." Berkhahn trains, among others, Olympic swimming champion Florian Wellbrock and World Championship bronze medalist Oliver Klemet.
Current strong current still problematic
Besides the issue of disease-carrying organisms, which was a problem until recently, the current is currently too strong according to Berkhahn. "If the conditions were not sufficient now, it would not be possible to hold the race in the Seine because the water flow is at two meters per second. You can swim downstream quickly, but not back up," Berkhahn said.
For the case where the conditions are not sufficient, Berkhahn wishes for an alternative for the open water swimming competitions. "The organizers should certainly have a Plan B," he said. However, the Olympic organizers have repeatedly emphasized that there is no alternative to holding the races in the Seine. The races over ten kilometers are planned for August 8 (women) and August 9 (men).
Despite the improvement in water quality, Olympia, a member of Germany's swimming team coached by Bernd Berkhahn, Expresses concern about the current being too strong for the Olympic open water swimming races in the Seine. Berkhahn hopes that the organizers have a backup plan for such conditions, as the races are scheduled for August 8 and 9 in Paris, France, where Florian Wellbrock, a renowned Olympic swimming champion, will be participating. Rainfall in France leading up to the Olympic Games had previously negatively impacted the water quality.
