News Reporting

Image: A vibrant illustration showing swimmers in a clean River Seine with the Eiffel Tower in the background, overlaid with graphics depicting water quality improvements and historical data.

Paris, France

As the countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games intensifies, the City of Lights is not just preparing its arenas but also undertaking an audacious environmental feat: transforming the River Seine into a swimmable urban oasis. What was once unthinkable is now on the cusp of becoming a reality, as decades of pollution are being reversed to host triathlon and open-water swimming events in the heart of Paris.

The monumental project, costing an estimated 1.4 billion euros, involves a multi-pronged approach to drastically improve water quality. Key initiatives include the construction of a massive underground storm water basin near the Austerlitz train station, designed to store excess rainwater and prevent untreated sewage from overflowing into the river during heavy downpours. Additionally, thousands of buildings and houseboats are being connected to the city's sewage network, ensuring waste is properly treated before reaching the Seine. The city has also implemented stricter controls on industrial discharges upstream.

For generations, swimming in the Seine has been banned due to prohibitive levels of bacteria and other pollutants. The commitment to make it swimmable for the Olympics – and subsequently for public use from 2025 – represents a significant legacy project. Officials have been conducting rigorous water quality tests, with recent reports indicating encouraging progress, though challenges remain, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. Mayor Anne Hidalgo has championed the initiative, viewing it as a symbol of urban resilience and environmental ambition.

Beyond the sporting spectacle, the cleaned Seine promises a profound urban renewal, offering new recreational opportunities for Parisians and visitors alike. The prospect of public swimming areas, like those planned at Bercy and Grenelle, could redefine the city's relationship with its iconic waterway. While the final tests and preparations are still underway, Paris is demonstrating that with concerted effort and investment, even the most enduring environmental challenges can be overcome, setting a powerful precedent for other global cities.