Paris Cleans Seine River for Summer Swimming

PARIS (AP) — The Seine River has emerged as a focal point of the Paris Olympics, serving as the backdrop for the opening ceremony and hosting triathlon and marathon swimming events. However, the river's prominent role has not come without challenges, particularly regarding its water quality. Authorities have committed to a substantial 1.4 billion-euro ($1.5 billion) cleanup initiative aimed at transforming the once-polluted waterway into a safe swimming destination for Parisians, who have been barred from swimming in the Seine for a century. Despite these efforts, daily water quality tests during the Games revealed that the Seine's water did not consistently meet acceptable standards for harmful bacteria, leading to the cancellation of several test swims and a delay in the men's individual triathlon. For many locals, the dream of swimming in the Seine remains unfulfilled, although a public swimming test is scheduled for mid-September, with hopes of opening the river for swimming next summer, contingent on meeting European water quality regulations. Since 2017, Parisians have enjoyed swimming in the Canal de l’Ourcq, but experts like Michel Riottot from France Nature Environnement caution that current efforts are still inadequate. He highlighted that 23,000 homes upstream are discharging sewage into the rainwater system, which directly impacts the Seine's water quality. François Houix, an Olympics project manager, noted that the Games have catalyzed broader initiatives to enhance the management of rivers and streams in the region. By the end of the year, Paris will see an increase in electric boats operating on its waterways, a significant rise from just one in 2018, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve the river's health.