RIVER SEINE STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF E. COLI
The Paris Olympic Games are only a few weeks away, yet the River Seine is still showing high levels of E. Coli bacteria in the water.
The City of Paris did a series of tests at the Alexandre III Bridge. The bridge is the starting point for the triathlon events.
The results weren’t ideal. Out of the 30 consecutive days of testing from 3 June to 2 July, a staggering 22 days showed that the water will expose athletes to serious health risks.
Authorities are still positive, saying the weather conditions have improved so much that they’re “confident for the Olympics now”.
This was confirmed by Antoine Guillou, the Deputy Mayor of Paris.
“We are having weather that is more consistent with the season. The quality of the Seine is good.”
Guillou was backed up by his boss, Mayor Anne Hidalgo. She said that she would “dive” in the River Seine next week and she believes the water will be “depolluted”.
CNN reports that the Paris Olympic Games is a historical event because swimming in the Seine has been illegal for more than 100 years due to the river’s pollution levels, though some swimming has been permitted recently as part of triathlon test events.
Image credit: CNN