For over a century, the idea of swimming in the Seine has been one of the fantasies that haunt Parisians. It was the central artery of city life, but it had become barred to swimmers out of fear of pollution.
Now, with less than three years to go until the Olympic Games, redevelopment efforts to allow swimming have gained momentum, with the river poised to be one of the star attractions during the Games.
Olympic Catalyst (Photo : EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
The impetus for the massive clean-up operation has been provided by the upcoming Paris Olympics. It's nearly €1.4 billion spent for an ambitious goal-to cut today's pollution levels by a quantum.
The crusade to dive into the Seine, first to fight for its safety, has found the city's Mayor, Anne Hidalgo, at the forefront. Her promised swim has been delayed due to unpredictable weather and fluctuating water quality.
Clean Waters Promise
Paris has a plan-rather ambitious-to create urban "beaches" along the Seine and tributaries. Residents and visitors are expected to use these new recreational areas for walking, relaxing, and enjoying one's time next to the water.
The first beach is slated to open under the historic town hall, with another near the Eiffel Tower and other locations planned for the suburbs along the Marne River.
The grave challenges, however, remain unabated. Water quality tests have been hugely inconsistent, and this is particularly so after heavy rainfall events resulting in sewage overflow.
Just last year, Olympic test events were marred by failed water quality tests, with concerns voiced over the athletes' safety. Olympic marathon swimming champion Ana Marcela Cunha has even suggested having a "plan B" if conditions do not improve.
The swimmer-friendly Seine is not such an entirely new idea. It was a project ex-French President Jacques Chirac spoke of as far back as 1990, although it was Mayor Hidalgo who presented it as the hallmark of her Olympic bid in 2016.
This city has carried out colossal public works to combat the pollution that can including upgrading its sewage system so that untreated sewage no longer finds its way into this river.
Seine's water quality plummets characterized by sharp fluctuations immediately after major rainstorms, resulting in the release of untreated sewage.
Entailed by this, raises a level of suspense as to whether the Olympic swimming events will take off as projected.
Last August, almost all test events had to be scrubbed because the water failed to meet European standards on two bacteria found in feces.
Still, over the past weeks, the river has continued blowing pollution tests-though dry weather forecast for the next few weeks should help improve conditions.
Just a few dozen people swim in the river regularly, whose early experiences have already been Mixed, and some lot express a lot of concerns over the quality of water.
How has public opinion about swimming in the Seine changed over time?Public opinion on the issue of swimming in the Seine has followed an amazing journey.
In the early 20th century, the river was a favorite area for swimmers and provided some of the venues for the 1900 Olympics. However, swimming was banned in 1923 due to growing pollution and the concern over safety.
Since then, interest in swimming in this river has slowly decreased as early as in the 1960s when the water quality had become abysmal.
There is currently renewed interest in returning the Seine to swimming as Paris prepares to host the 2024 Olympics. While the city has worked hard to clean up this mess and money has been invested, both Parisians and athletes are still raising questions due to inconsistent water quality and safety issues.
The swimmable Seine, a dream closer than it has been in decades - public opinion is still optimistic, with a 'wait and see' attitude leaning towards some concrete proof that the river truly will be safe enough to swim in.Under the looming Paris Olympics, the world is keenly watching the cleaning efforts of the Seine.
Their success will not only affect the Games but also somebody's decision on whether Parisians can finally come to the satisfaction of an ages-ago dream-swimming in their iconic river.