Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wants to swim in the Seine in mid-July to prove that the river is clean and safe. “The exact date depends on the weather,” she said on Wednesday. She originally wanted to swim in the Seine in June.
However, almost two weeks ago a test swim in the Paris river was postponed – officially because the river had too much water. A few days later it became known that the water did not yet have the desired quality. During heavy rainfall the water generally becomes increasingly polluted, but in recent months it has generally become significantly cleaner.
Here you will see a message from Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
1.4 million euros spent
In total, the state has invested around 1.4 billion euros to connect countless households to the sewerage system that previously discharged their waste water into the Seine. In addition, a huge overflow basin has been built in Paris so that the sewage system does not overflow into the river during heavy rainfall, as was previously the case. It can hold up to 50 million liters of water, this week another 40 million liters after heavy rainfall.
The Seine plays an important role at the Paris Summer Games: on July 26, around 100 boats carrying athletes will sail down the river during the opening ceremony. According to Mayor Hidalgo, there is no plan B. The triathlon and open water competitions will also take place in the Seine. If the water quality is too poor, it will be considered to postpone the competitions for a few days.
Source: Krone
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