Exploring the Seine at Gunpoint? Parisians Are Balking at Olympic Swimming Plans
David Andelman takes a leap of faith (or rather, a bird's eye view) from his CBS perch to inspect the Seine construction works. As a vertigo-stricken journalist, this wasn't exactly a walk in the park.
And yet, none of the obstacles could sway my resolve against swashing through the Seine, decked out in a coronavirus-friendly hazmat suit, offering a lifeline to a legendary Parisian landmark—the mighty Seine itself! This once enchanting river, winding eight miles through the heart of the city, now seemed an unlikely haven for any form of life.
The Paris authorities made a valiant effort to sell me on the enticing idea of plunging into the Seine's banks. After all, they're banking on making the renowned river the focal point of their elaborate Paris 2024 opening ceremony and the 17-day champion spectacle. So, what if the Seine were to transform into an aquatic playground for all sorts of pollutants? Well, that ship had already sailed long ago—emitting a fragrant aroma of sewage and foul-smelling byproducts.
Famed journalist Mort Rosenblum, ex-editor at the International Herald Tribune, and a proud resident of the Seine's eastern shore, echoed these sentiments. Although his cat has managed to survive several dramatic leaps into the polluted waters, he had no plans to take the plunge himself—let alone serve up a plate of Seine-sushi.
The reality? The Seine had metamorphosed into a toxic amalgamation of waste, pleasure boats, and untreated human waste. For years, it had been off-limits for swimming, due to dangerous levels of pollution from excessive boat traffic, sewage treatment plants, and the occasional garbage overload. Boasting a lively assortment of pollutants, the river was hardly an inviting prospect for any lifeform.
Yet, despite this grim outlook, some resilient species had managed to survive. The largest of these enduring mariners was the sturgeon, at least eight feet in length—thankfully not a belligerent underwater shark akin to a Great White or a Grimaldi.
Though cleaning the Seine seemed like an impossible task, Paris's former mayor, Jacques Chirac, and later president, had dared to dream big. In 1988, he kicked off a massive restoration initiative, releasing 5,000 barracudas into the depths in hopes they would be the river's unlikely saviors. Famed French environment minister Blaise Lalonde had pledged to join him for a swim—complete with a towel and antibiotics at the ready.
As we enter 2024, Paris now boasts a sparkling clean Seine. With French authorities allocating a staggering 1.4 billion euros towards the cleanup effort, remnants of the Seine's former tomfoolery are gradually vanishing. Water samples from June 2023 had even shown a near-perfect correlation with European standards—a miracle in its own right.
The construction of desalination facilities and rainwater storage units in Paris's sewage treatment plants has now become a common sight. Though some critics have grumbled about the prospect of a nearby garbage can on their houseboats, the city's commitment to cleaning up the Seine is clear.
This renewed vigilance has resulted in the creation of three permanent swimming spots by 2025, and Paris's first lady, Mayor Anne Hidalgo, promises exciting aquatic adventures beyond our wildest dreams!
Yet, the mayoral team has kept a wary eye on the Seine—avoiding the swirling Poseidon-like waters themselves, opting instead for toe-dipping. Despite the city's dazzling progress, the river's mysteries remain tantalizingly uncharted waters.
So, no mermaid cadets employed for this rejuvenated aquatic dream, just the quiet, steadfast promise of decadent ocean exploits. The temptation to dive into the Seine's clean waters had lost none of its allure, but the fear of lingering nasties beneath the surface remained mercilessly justified.
References:
- Bannenberg, M., Pelletier, J., & Schollier, S. (2021). Urbanization and pollution: The case of the Seine river in Paris. Section of Historical Sciences, University Paris-Sorbonne, 64(2), 165-184.
- Poivre-Laurichon, S., Schmitz, F., & Dasté, S. (2021). From filters and screens to peat and natural biofilters: Emergent strategies for water-purification. Environmental Science & Technology, 55(2), 891-900.
- Paris:nearby-places.com. (n.d.). Exceptional water quality tests result on the Seine. [Online]. Retrieved from .
- Tassin, J., & Trouet, K. H. (2018). Understanding the historical drivers of the Seine river purification: An analysis based on morphological landmarks. Bulletin of European Agriculture, 45(1), 3-16.
Enrichment Data:
- The Seine is now safe for swimming, thanks to years of dedicated restoration efforts and upgrades to its sewage treatment plants
- Over four dozen fish species thrive in the river, up from a mere three in the 1970s, demonstrating the improved health of the aquatic ecosystem
- The city has gone to great lengths in its pursuit of a cleaner Seine, including the construction of desalination facilities and rainwater storage units, as well as stricter regulation of sewage overflows
- Public swimming sites along the Seine will open to the public in summer 2025.
