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 one year before the Olympic events disputed in the river.
Since the beginning of these daily samples taken each summer, on two Parisian sites near the Saint-Louis island (Pont-Marie) and the Invalides (Alexander-III bridge), “the quality of the water is excellent”, has said Friday to AFP Pierre Rabadan, deputy for sport, the Olympics and the Seine of the mayor (PS) of Paris Anne Hidalgo.
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 are “not a problem for bathing”, says the deputy. In detail, the four sampling stations at these two sites showed “excellent” results, except once when the result was only “sufficient” for the E.coli bacteria.
Highlighting “the work carried out” to clean up the Sequanese water, and in particular those to connect 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.
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 around 50,000 m3, must be commissioned at the start of 2024 in order to “reduce the uncertainties” in the event 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.
