Paris continues to face concerns regarding the water quality of the Seine River as preparations for the 2024 Olympics are underway. On Sunday, a pre-race triathlon event in the river was canceled due to these concerns. Organizers decided to cancel the swimming leg of the triathlon familiarization event after a meeting discussing water quality test results, which included representatives from World Triathlon, city, and regional authorities.
Swimming in the Seine has been prohibited for over a century due to poor water quality. Despite investments of $1.5 billion to ready the Seine for the Olympics, daily water quality tests in early June showed unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria. Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently took a swim in the river to demonstrate its cleanliness, but heavy rain during the opening ceremony revived worries about the river’s suitability for swimming events, given the impact of weather conditions on water quality in Paris.
Efforts since 2015 have been focused on improving the Seine for the Olympics and for the benefit of Parisians post-Games. Measures have included building a large underground water storage basin, upgrading sewer infrastructure, and enhancing wastewater treatment plants. Triathletes participating in the event have expressed optimism that the water quality will improve sufficiently for them to compete in all segments of the triathlon, emphasizing the importance of swimming as part of the competition.
