This weekend, citizens of Paris are primed to take the plunge! Three new swimming venues on the Seine River will formally debut on Saturday. This leads to a dramatic reversal for the celebrated waterbody. Since 1923 swimming has been banned, ostensibly because of pollution and safety hazards from the navigation of the river. The additional locations include sites near Ndèye’s famed Notre Dame Cathedral and île de la Cité, as well as near the iconic Eiffel Tower. There’s a site in eastern Paris. Paris has been cleaning up the river in preparation for swimming events during the 2024 Paris Olympics. To further this move, they’re creating more places to swim.
The city has taken on as a priority the task of reclaiming the Seine River. To see that dream realized, they’re pouring 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) into an expansive toxic cleanup project. This initiative aimed to restore the river’s water quality, making it suitable for Olympic competitions, including triathlon and marathon swimming events. As city officials tout, the water passes European commission standards every day. They are thrilled to bring this new opportunity to residents and visitors alike!
A New Era for the Seine
For Parisians and visitors alike, swimming in the Seine has long been an elusive dream come true. This is soon to be a thing of the past. The city has selected areas that will be open for swimming, with lifeguards on duty to protect bathers. Through the end of August, you can visit all of these sites for free at designated times. Limited to those 10 or 14 years of age and older, depending on location.
Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan made it clear that robust safety measures need to be in place. “Green means the water quality is good. Red means that it’s not good or that there’s too much current,” he explained. The city will be doing water testing on a daily basis to assure that conditions are safe enough for swimming.
As enthusiasm continues to swell, many of Newark’s residents shown conflicting reactions to this unprecedented time in their home’s history. Enys Mahdjoub shared her concerns, stating, “I’m a bit disgusted. It’s more the worry of getting dirty than anything else at the moment.” In stark contrast, many others believe this is a dream come true. Clea Montanari expressed her enthusiasm: “It’s an opportunity, a dream come true.”
Ensuring Water Safety
The city’s ongoing commitment to consistently test and monitor water quality is key to reducing fears about safety. Dan Angelescu, founder and CEO of Fluidion, has spent the last four years independently testing bacterial levels in the Seine. In response to one question, he pointed out that although water quality is overall very good, it is extremely variable.
“What we see is that the water quality in the Seine is highly variable,” – Dan Angelescu.
Angelescu pointed out that there are only a few days each season when he would consider the water safe for swimming. He cautioned against over-optimism regarding safety assessments:
“All we can say is that we can raise a hand and say look: the science today does not support the current assessment of water safety used in the rivers around Paris, and we think that there is major risk that is not being captured at all,” – Dan Angelescu.
The city still sounds hopeful that these water quality improvements will be significant compared with past years. Rabadan mentioned, “I can’t make a bet on the numbers of days when we’ll have to close this summer, but water quality seems better than last year.”
A Reflection of Community Efforts
The opening of swimming sites on the Seine signifies more than just a recreational opportunity. It represents a community-driven effort to improve urban waterways and promote public health through sports and leisure activities. Forest Preserves This new initiative fits deeply into national trends and goals tied to increasing accessibility and engagement with the natural world, especially in urban areas.
Now, Parisians are preparing to enter a new phase in their relationship with the Seine River. Local leaders point out the long-term payoffs that these initiatives will provide. World Aquatics stated, “The legacy of these efforts is already evident, with the Seine now open for public swimming – a positive example of how sports can drive long-term community benefits.”
Lucile Woodward expressed her excitement about participating in this new experience. “We’re going to enjoy swimming in it, being there and setting an example.”
