A few days before the start of the Olympic Games, it remains doubtful whether the Seine River is safe for swimming. For this reason, the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has announced that on July 17 she will dive into the river to demonstrate water safety. The goal is to prove to Parisians that the huge investment for cleaning the Seine, which amounts to 1.4 billion euros, was worth it.
Currently, water quality is directly dependent on rainfall. Tests carried out in the river in June showed very high levels of Escherichia Coli and Enterococci bacteria, especially after rainfall. This is because Paris' centuries-old sewage system is not always able to contain the sewage that often flows into the river. The favorable weather of the last few days has improved the situation.
The Sena will have a central role in this year's Olympic Games. In addition to the opening ceremony, swimming competitions will take place on the river. If the river is not considered safe, the swimming competition will be moved to Vaire-sur-Marne.
All citizens will benefit from the cleaning of the Seine. Mayor Hidalgo has also announced the creation of three beach areas along the river until 2025. The waters of the Seine were declared unfit for swimming in 1923 and since then all efforts to clean and fix the pollution have failed.