French authorities have launched a project to clean up the River Seine, aiming to make it swimmable for the first time since a ban was imposed in 1923 due to pollution and boat traffic.
Started in 2015, the project is nearly finished, coinciding with the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, where the river will feature prominently in the opening ceremony, and during the Olympic triathlon and open-water races, as well as the Paralympic Games.
The cleanup effort, costing approximately €1.4 billion, has focused on stopping homes and houseboats from discharging wastewater into the river and enhancing sewage treatment facilities.
Additionally, the Austerlitz rainwater storage basin, equivalent to 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools, has been constructed to manage stormwater overflow.
Deputy Paris Mayor Pierre Rabadan expressed confidence that the sight of athletes swimming in the Seine during the Olympics will reassure the public about the river’s safety for swimming.
By summer 2025, designated swimming areas in central Paris, including Bras Marie, Bras de Grenelle near the Eiffel Tower, and Bercy, will be open to Parisians and visitors.
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