By Brigitte Rodriguez, Publishing Associate: Researcher & Writer at Save the Water™ | July 26, 2024
One of the most important sporting events is the Olympic Games. This year, the opening ceremony and several tournaments will take place at the Seine River in Paris, France. The setting presents an environmental challenge. Contamination levels in the river are high, which puts the safety of the Olympic Games at risk and more importantly impacts water quality and public health. This is because Paris’ water comes from two sources: the Seine and Marne rivers and the groundwater (Normandy, France, and Burgundy).
Environmental and Health Implications
The River Seine is a high point of tourist attraction in Paris. A lot of activities happen along the scenic river, but swimming in the Seine has been illegal for over 100 years. In 2015, the French government invested $ 1.5 billion in a project to clean up the river. Despite efforts, recent studies show that E. coli levels still exceed acceptable limits, indicating the presence of fecal matter in the water.
The Seine’s water quality has been negatively impacted by years of anthropogenic activities leading to sewage pollution. The pollution not only endangers the aquatic ecosystem in the river but also poses a threat to the health and safety of the residents and the athletes participating in the swimming events.
Some of the health risks of exposure to fecal contamination are:
In conclusion, the health effects of exposure to fecal contamination vary depending on the level of exposure, with potentially serious consequences for public health.
Current Olympics Situation
Paris is hosting the Olympics for the third time. The first was in 1900, and the second was held in 1924. The Summer Olympics will run from July 26, 2024, till August 11, 2024, including various disciplines such as gymnastics, swimming, and triathlon. The last two disciplines are scheduled to take place in the Seine. Questions remain regarding the cleanliness of the river as city officials work to ensure that the river is ready for international competition. The river’s cleanliness is currently compromised by issues such as failures in the sewage network, sewage dumping during the rainy season, and houses lacking connections to the sewage system. The goal is to get the river clean enough so that high-performance competitions can take place normally.
The Road Ahead
If the restoration of the Seine becomes successful, this will allow tourists and Parisians to enjoy swimming in one of the most romantic rivers in history. It will also favor the recovery of fish stocks and aquatic fauna. The cleaning of the river will allow Parisians to cool off from the hot days.
Once the river clean-up project is completed, the French government has several additional projects in mind. For instance, they plan to improve the tourist experience along the river by carrying out renovation and beautification projects on the Seine’s banks and creating new green spaces, pedestrian walkways, and cycle paths. This improvement would positively impact the businesses surrounding the river, boosting the local economy.
