Let's swim in the Seine
The next time you plan a trip to Paris, don't forget your swimsuit: the Seine is now open for swimming! After €1.4 billion worth of cleaning the river, Paris authorities declared the water quality as good enough for people to take a bath in Paris' fresh waters. The first swim ban for health reasons dates back to 1923.
The announcement contrasts with the Olympic Games last summer, when the triathlon competition was postponed due to poor water quality. Several athletes even reported falling ill after swimming in the Seine. ”I felt and saw things we should not think too much about,” Belgian triathlete Jolien Vermeylen told the Flemish channel VTM at the time.
Is it worth the experience? I honestly doubt it. For safety reasons, the access will be strictly restricted to people over 14 with full swimming capacities; a few reasons enough to not make it a popular and attractive place.
However, we should rejoice about the improvement of the water quality in the French capital city. It encourages us to take a different view of the water flowing through our cities: it is a resource to be cherished.