The French authorities are optimistic that the Seine is clean enough for the competition. But there is still one catch.
Two weeks before the start of the Olympic Games, the authorities in the city of Paris are confident that the water quality of the Seine will be sufficient by then to organize competitions there as planned. “We have no doubt that we will be able to hold the competitions on the scheduled date,” said Pierre Rabadan, the deputy mayor of Paris responsible for the Olympic Games, to the broadcaster rfi. The water quality of the river has recently been sufficient on eight out of ten days.
According to the new water quality analysis presented by the city, which takes into account the period up to Tuesday, it complied with the regulations for holding Olympic competitions on six of the last seven days measured. Over 80 percent of the water analyses were compliant with the limit values.
Heavy rain caused localized deterioration in water quality – both in Paris itself and in the upper reaches of the river, from where pollution reached the capital. The open water races for swimmers over ten kilometers are planned for August 8 (women) and August 9 (men).
Bad weather affects water quality of the Seine
As the city emphasizes, the unusually humid weather and low temperatures have had a negative impact on water quality. This is because pathogens are broken down more quickly at higher temperatures and a lower water level in the Seine.
According to the city’s latest analysis, the amount of water in the Seine is still more than three times the usual amount in summer. This leads to an increased flow rate that could jeopardise the holding of swimming competitions.
In addition, an unusually high water level for the time of year could have an impact on the opening ceremony of the games. Around 160 boats are to take the teams and several thousand athletes across the six-kilometer stretch of the Seine on July 26. As the newspaper “Le Monde” reported, a small number of the boats will not fit under the bridges on the Seine when the water level is high, so other boats will have to be used.
Source: Stern
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