French charity raises alarm over Seine River pollution before Olympics

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A FRENCH WATER CHARITY IS SOUNDING THE ALARM – OVER POLLUTION OF THE SEINE RIVER – AND PARIS AUTHORITIES ARE UNDER FIRE TO CLEAN UP THE FAMED WATER WAY BEFORE THE OLYMPIC GAMES KICK OFF ON JULY 26TH.

THE SEINE RIVER IS SET TO BE THE BACKDROP FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY AND USED BY ATHLETES AS AN OPEN-WATER SWIMMING VENUE.

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION WROTE AN OPEN LETTER SAYING THEY HAD PERFORMED TESTS OF THE SEINE RIVER OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND THAT THE RIVER IS POLLUTED WITH “ALARMING” LEVELS OF BACTERIA – INCLUDING E. COLI AND ENTEROCOCCI WHICH ARE BOTH KNOWN TO COME FROM HUMAN FECAL MATTER AND COULD BE DANGEROUS TO SWIMMERS.

“IT IS THEREFORE CLEAR THAT THE ATHLETES WHO WILL BE TAKING PART IN THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC EVENTS PLANNED FOR THE SEINE WILL BE SWIMMING IN POLLUTED WATER AND TAKING SIGNIFICANT RISKS TO THEIR HEALTH” THE FOUNDATION STATED IN A NEWS RELEASE.

IN RESPONSE, OFFICIALS FROM ÎLE-DE-FRANCE PRECINCT WROTE A LETTER STATING THE FOUNDATIN’S FINDINGS ARE “FLAWED” BECAUSE THE SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED FROM SEPTEMBER 2023 TO MARCH OF THIS YEAR – AND THAT OFFICIALS WEREN’T ACTIVELY TREATING THE WATER DURING THE WINTER.

FRENCH OFFICIALS HAVE SPENT MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS IN THE LAST DECADE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE RIVER

CURRENTLY, RAINWATER AND WASTEWATER GET FUNNELED THROUGH PARIS’ SEWER SYSTEM – AND BOTH GET RELEASED INTO THE SEINE RIVER.

AUTHORITIES PROMISED TO CLEAN UP THE WATER BEFORE THE OLYMPICS AND ARE SET TO SPEND ANOTHER $1.5 BILLION DOLLARS ON A PLAN TO MAKE GOOD ON THAT PROMISE.

THE NEW PLAN INCLUDES A NEW STORMWATER FACILITY – ALONG WITH NEW SEWAGE CONNECTIONS FOR BOATS ALONG THE RIVER.

FRANCE’S PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON AND PARIS’ MAYOR ANNE HIDALGO HAVE BOTH SAID THEY WILL TAKE A DIP IN THE SEINE WATER BEFORE THE OLYMPICS.

CITY OFFICIALS ARE ALSO HOPEFUL THE SEINE RIVER WATER WILL BE USED FOR PUBLIC BATHING BY 2025.