PARIS — For the first time in over a century, Parisians and tourists are preparing to take a refreshing dip in the Seine. The long-polluted river is finally opening up as a summertime swim spot following a massive, expensive cleanup project that made it suitable for Olympic competitions last year.
Three new swimming sites on the Paris riverbank are set to open Saturday, including one close to Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, another near the Eiffel Tower, and a third in eastern Paris. This development represents a significant milestone in the city’s environmental and recreational efforts.
The Cleanup Effort: A Herculean Task
The River Seine was one of the stars of the Paris Olympics, hosting the ambitious opening ceremony and the triathlon and marathon swimming competitions. However, these events faced challenges, such as rainfall increasing bacteria levels, which postponed some competitions. Despite these hurdles, Paris authorities are confident that all conditions are now favorable for public swimming, including hot, sunny weather and water quality results that align with European regulations.
Olympic athletes competing in the river marked a spectacular reward for the 1.4 billion-euro ($1.5 billion) cleanup effort. In preparation for the Games, authorities opened new disinfection units and constructed a massive storage basin to prevent bacteria-laden wastewater from spilling directly into the Seine during rainstorms. Houseboats that previously discharged sewage into the river were required to connect to municipal sewer systems, and some upstream homes also redirected their wastewater to treatment plants.
Public Enthusiasm and Skepticism
“It’s a symbolic moment when we get our river back,” said sports coach and influencer Lucile Woodward, who will participate in the first amateur open water competition in the Seine on Sunday morning. Woodward, who swam alongside Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo before the Olympics, is optimistic about the public’s reception. “We’re going to enjoy swimming in it, being there and setting an example,” she said. “Once people see that there are hundreds of people having fun and enjoying it, everyone will want to go!”
However, not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Some Parisians remain skeptical about swimming in the Seine, often deterred by the water’s murky color, floating litter, and the presence of tourist boats. Enys Mahdjoub, a real estate agent, expressed his reservations, saying he would not be afraid but rather “a bit disgusted. It’s more the worry of getting dirty than anything else at the moment.”
Ensuring Safety and Compliance
Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan emphasized that water quality is tested daily to ensure safety. “Green means the water quality is good. Red means that it’s not good or that there’s too much current,” he explained. Tests have consistently met European regulations since early June, with only two exceptions due to rain and boat-related pollution.
Despite these assurances, Dan Angelescu, founder and CEO of Fluidion, a water monitoring tech company, cautioned that the water testing methodology has limitations. “What we see is that the water quality in the Seine is highly variable,” Angelescu noted. “There are only a few days in a swimming season where I would say water quality is acceptable for swimming.”
“All we can say is that we can raise a hand and say look: the science today does not support the current assessment of water safety used in the rivers around Paris, and we think that there is a major risk that is not being captured at all,” he said.
Looking Forward: A Dream Realized
Swimming in the Seine has been illegal since 1923, with exceptions, due to pollution and navigation risks. Now, until the end of August, swimming sites will be open for free at scheduled times for anyone aged 10 or 14 and older, depending on the location. Lifeguards will be on duty to ensure safety.
“It’s an opportunity, a dream come true,” said Clea Montanari, a project manager in Paris. “It’d be a dream if the Seine becomes drinkable, that would be the ultimate goal, right? But already swimming in it is really good.”
As Parisians and tourists eagerly anticipate their first legal swims in the Seine in over a century, the initiative stands as a testament to the city’s dedication to environmental restoration and community engagement. The reopening of the Seine for public swimming not only highlights Paris’s commitment to sustainability but also sets a precedent for other urban areas seeking to reclaim their natural waterways.
Oleg Cetinic and Alexander Turnbull contributed to this report.
