Paris Olympics River Contaminated With ‘Alarming’ Bacteria Levels
A charity in France has raised concerns over “alarming” bacteria levels polluting the Seine—the Paris river in which several Olympic and Paralympic Games events will be held this summer.
The warning from the Surfrider Foundation, which comes less than four months before the games begin in July, was delivered in the form of an open letter to stakeholders. It claimed that out of 14 samples taken from the Seine over a six-month period, all but one showed poor water quality.
In a Facebook post, Surfrider Foundation Europe said there are several causes of the pollution “ranging from rainfall to malfunctions in the sewage system, including poorly connected barges and animal waste.” It said the samples were collected at the Alexandre III Bridge which, according to the games’ organizers, will “provide a majestic setting for the finish line” of the swimming marathon, triathlon, and Para triathlon events.