The water of the Seine River showed elevated and unsafe levels of E. coli less than two months before the swimming competitions scheduled to take place during the Paris Olympics, according to test results published last week.
The contamination levels in the first eight days of June, following heavy persistent rains in Paris, showed that bacteria such as E. coli and enterococci were present in the river beyond the limits considered safe for athletes.
The report was published by the monitoring group Eau de Paris a day after a senior official from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated that “there were no reasons to doubt” that the competitions would take place as scheduled in a historic stretch of the Seine in the city center, near the Eiffel Tower.
The first Olympic event in the Seine is the men’s triathlon, including 1.5 kilometers of swimming, on the morning of July 30. The women’s triathlon is the following day, and a mixed relay event is scheduled for August 5.
The marathon swimming events of over 10 kilometers for women and men are scheduled for August 8 and 9, respectively.
According to European standards, the safe limit for E. coli is 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters.
During the first eight days of June, test results showed that E. coli levels frequently exceeded these limits. Enterococci levels were better, remaining mostly within safe limits.
The tests indicated an improvement, from high contamination levels on June 1 to more acceptable levels on June 9, mainly due to improved weather.
Despite the confidence expressed by the IOC, the final decision on whether the water is safe for athletes rests with the governing bodies of the individual sports to be held, the World Aquatics Championships and the World Triathlon.
Major cleaning program underway
Swimming in the Seine would have been unthinkable for many in the French capital until recently.
Like other rivers that cross major cities, the water quality of the Seine is affected by many factors, from chemical discharges to boat traffic.
Rainwater also seeps into the sewage system, and to prevent flooding in the streets, excess water, which carries fecal bacteria, is diverted into the Seine.
To address this issue, a massive reservoir capable of storing 50,000 cubic meters of water during heavy rains was inaugurated in May.
This was part of an investment of about $2.25 billion ahead of the Olympics to clean the historically polluted waterway.
Earlier this week, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo doubled down on her promise to take a dip in the river before the competition begins.
On Tuesday, she confirmed that her swim was postponed until after the early elections in France, which conclude on July 7.
Source: AP