the water of the Seine “excellent” at the beginning of June, according to the town hall

The first analyzes of the water of the Seine carried out since June 1, on the basis of the European regulations in force, give “excellent results“, rejoices the town hall of Paris at one year of the Olympic events disputed in the river.

Since the start of these daily samples taken each summer, at two Parisian sites near Île Saint-Louis (Pont-Marie) and Les Invalides (Pont Alexandre-III), “the water quality is excellent“, said Friday to AFP Pierre Rabadan, deputy for sport, the Olympics and the Seine of the mayor (PS) of Paris Anne Hidalgo.

Water suitable for swimming?

Based on a European directive, the regulations in force set thresholds for the presence of two bacteria of faecal origin, Escherichia coli (E.coli) and enterococci, to judge whether the water is suitable for swimming.

The other sources of pollution do notno problem for swimming», Considers the istant. In detail, the four sampling stations at these two sites posted results “excellentexcept for one time where the result was just “sufficientfor E.coli bacteria.

1.4 billion euros invested by the Paris City Hall and neighboring communities

Highlighting “the work carried outto clean up Sequanese water, and in particular those for connecting the wastewater from the more than 200 barges to the ports, Mr. Rabadan also underlines the possible impact of the “very good weather» on the results because «the sun is a good destroyer of bacteria“.

Since 2016, the State, the town hall of Paris and neighboring communities have invested 1.4 billion euros in a bathing plan for the Seine and the Marne.

Beyond the Olympic open water swimming and triathlon events in the summer of 2024, this plan should lead to the opening of around twenty permanent bathing sites in Ile-de-France in the years to follow.

The Seine in 2017. POOL / AI / Reuters / Panoramic

In addition to the proper connection of wastewater from barges, public establishments and between 20,000 to 30,000 homes, several works are under construction to clean up the course of the river and its tributary.

Among these works, the rainwater storage basin of Austerlitz in Paris, with a capacity of approximately 50,000 m3, must be commissioned at the beginning of 2024 in order to “reduce uncertaintiesin case of rain, recalls Pierre Rabadan.

Because heavy rains mechanically cause pollution by bringing wastewater back into the river. In the event of heavy rainfall before the Olympic events, these could be delayed by a few days.