The Seine River in Paris has exceeded the pollution limit for the Olympics: analysis June 21, 2024
- Ana Cunha-Busch
- Jun 20, 2024
- 1 min read
By AFP - Agence France Presse
The Seine River in Paris has exceeded the pollution limit for the Olympics: analysis
The Seine river in Paris was too dirty when tested on June 16 to allow the Olympic triathlon and open water swimming events to take place, an analysis showed on Friday.
"The samples from the Seine do not meet the standards we will have this summer" for the river when the Olympic Games are held from July 26 to August 11, said Paris region mayor Marc Guillaume.
A weekly report published by the Paris region and the prefecture blamed unseasonably wet weather for the high rates of two types of fecal bacteria, including E. Coli, in the waterway.
"Water quality remains degraded due to... rain, high flow, low sunlight (and) temperatures below seasonal norms," said the report.
The results published online showed that the concentration of E. Coli was higher than the recommended limit at four sites on the river during practically the entire week of June 10-16.
The Seine is due to host both the Olympic opening ceremony and open water events during the Games.
But Paris is holding its breath in the hope that the river will be clean enough.
In August last year, the marathon swimming test events were canceled because the water was too dirty, as were the swimming stages on two of the four triathlon and para-triathlon test days.
If the river is too polluted when the Olympics start, plan B is to postpone the open water swimming events for a few days - not move them to a new venue.
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