Unsafe E. coli levels found in Paris’ Seine River less than 2 months before Olympics

Less than two months before the Paris Olympics, water in the Seine River has shown unsafe levels of E. coli, according to test results from early June. Heavy rains in Paris caused contamination levels to exceed safe limits for bacteria such as E. coli and enterococci. Despite this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) remains confident that the swimming events, including the men’s and women’s triathlons and marathon swims, will proceed as planned.

The Seine’s water quality has been a concern since some test events were canceled last August due to similar issues. A $1.5 billion investment aimed to clean the river ahead of the Olympics. Recent tests revealed improvement, with E. coli levels dropping by June 9 as weather conditions improved. To combat contamination, a new reservoir was inaugurated in May to store excess rainwater.

The final decision on the events’ safety will rest with the governing bodies of World Aquatics and World Triathlon. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has pledged to swim in the Seine before the competition begins, underscoring efforts to ensure water safety.

Source: NPR