logo
How Paris fixed Seine's ‘poop problem', made river fit for swimmers

How Paris fixed Seine's ‘poop problem', made river fit for swimmers

Indian Express05-07-2025
For over a century, the River Seine in Paris had a 'poop problem' — untreated sewage frequently made it to the river, making it a breeding ground for E coli and thus unfit for swimmers. But not any more.
Parisians on Saturday (July 5) rushed to take a dip in the Seine, with authorities opening up the river to public swimming for the very first time since 1923. This came after an extensive clean-up operation spurred by the Paris Olympics last year, in which the river was used as a venue for certain swimming events.
Here's what ailed the Seine, and how authorities cleaned the river up.
The Seine has always been a romantic river. It has been the subject of many paintings, sepia-tinted photographs, and ballads. And of course, people love to fall in love on the banks of the Seine.
Yet, for more than a century, the Seine was notorious for being filthy. Very filthy. So much so that it was too toxic for most fishes, and swimming in the river was banned since 1923.
This was courtesy Paris' aged sewage system in which rainwater and wastewater used to flow in the same pipes. During heavy spells of rain, these pipes reached their capacity and start overflowing, which led to untreated sewage being directly discharged into the Seine, instead of first going to a treatment plant.
This contamination sent the concentration of E coli in the river skyrocketing. A bacteria found in the faecal waste of humans and other animals, some strains of E Coli can cause severe illness, including gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
It is the presence of this bacteria, in many times the safe limit, that made the Seine unsafe for humans and aquatic life alike.
To fix the Seine, Paris spent well over a billion dollars to improve its infrastructure: this was a key promise made by organisers after the city won the bid for the 2024 Olympics in 2016.
At the heart of Paris' solution for fixing the Seine has been the creation of a giant underground rainwater storage tank in southeastern Paris, capable of holding enough water to fill up 20 Olympic-size swimming pools. This tank is meant to hold most runoff water during heavy rains, and prevent overwhelming the city's sewege systems.
Apart from this, the city made major investments to connect tens of thousands of homes to the sewer system, and upgrade water treatment facilities.
While heavy rains nonetheless affected a few Olympic training sessions and the men's triathlon event, competitions eventually went ahead in the Seine last year. Now the river has been opened to the public.
Authorities say that daily water quality tests will be conducted during the swimming season at designated swimming areas. At the moment, there are three sites along the banks of the Seine in Paris which can accomodate more than 1,000 swimmers daily in the summer.
This is an updated version of an explainer first published last year.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why are countries throwing money at IShowSpeed to visit them?
Why are countries throwing money at IShowSpeed to visit them?

Time of India

time17-07-2025

  • Time of India

Why are countries throwing money at IShowSpeed to visit them?

(Image via @GroupeEssling & @abazwhyllzz/X) Darren 'IShowSpeed' Watkins Jr. is turning his chaotic livestreams into government-funded tourism campaigns, and the numbers are wild. The 20-year-old streamer, known for barking on camera and sprinting shirtless through airports, is now being paid by actual countries to visit and promote them. Speed's European invasion is not just for content; it's big business Earlier this month, Speed was spotted filming in the Baltic states: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia each reportedly dropped around $35,000 to bring him in. That includes a $20,000 appearance fee for Speed and about $10,000 to cover local logistics like security, transport, and on-ground coordination. From throwing a discus with an Olympic medalist in Lithuania to cruising through Latvian streets with a driver who once chauffeured Michael Jackson (true story), Speed's trip was anything but ordinary. And it worked. In Estonia alone, his July 15 livestream drew nearly 2 million viewers. That's not counting the hundreds of viral clips that flooded TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram in the days that followed. In Estonia he even got a personal tour of the Prime Minister's home. No press conference, no official statements, just a live chat with one of the country's top political figures... in front of a screaming Twitch chat. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Book Your Daily Profit By 11 AM With This Superclass By Mr. Bala TradeWise Learn More Undo Governments bet big on virality, and IShowSpeed delivers Tourism officials across the Baltics defended the spending, calling it a strategic investment . With millions of young travelers glued to influencers rather than brochures, destinations are desperate for relevance in the scroll era. 'Every destination is fighting for the attention of the same travelers,' one tourism rep said. It's not just about views, either. Countries are banking on a ripple effect, the post-stream buzz, the memes, the sudden surge in Gen Z searches for 'Estonia flights.' This isn't even new for Speed, it's just leveling up Speed's been on a worldwide streamer spree lately across Asia, South America, Europe, Oceania, and now, he's back on Twitch too. After being reinstated on the platform, he gained 600,000+ followers in just eight days. He's also eyeing something wild: a space livestream, possibly with Elon Musk. He wants to be the first streamer to go live from space, and yes, he's kind of racing Kai Cenat for that title. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

Cept to draft 3.1cr urban mobility plan
Cept to draft 3.1cr urban mobility plan

Time of India

time14-07-2025

  • Time of India

Cept to draft 3.1cr urban mobility plan

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) has commissioned Cept University to prepare a new comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) as part of its long-term urban mobility strategy for the city. The Rs 3.10 crore project will guide transportation infrastructure and public transit integration over the next two decades, aligning with the upcoming City Development Plan 2041. This development comes after Auda's previous mobility plan, prepared in 2021 for Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, could not be effectively implemented. It had been developed by Urban Mass Transit Company Limited (UMTC) with Cept University working as its subcontractor. "Auda's current jurisdiction spans 159 villages and five municipalities — Sanand, Kalol, Bareja, Dahegam, and Mahemdabad — across Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Gandhinagar and Kheda districts," said a senior Auda official, adding, "The authority has emphasized the need for comprehensive transportation planning covering the next 20 years." You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad "The new mobility plan will integrate various public transport agencies including metro, state transport, AMTS, BRTS, mono rail and regional rail to enhance public transport capacity and effectiveness," said the Auda official. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo With India aspiring to host the 2036 Olympics, this plan becomes crucial for providing integrated and seamless transport services." The approval process began when Auda wrote to the state govt's urban development department (UDD) on Oct 12, 2023, followed by another letter on Feb 6 last year. "Auda had earlier requested approval and financial assistance under a sub-scheme of the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs, which subsequently granted in-princple approval with consultant expenses covered," said the Auda official. Cept University, listed at No. 23 on the state ministry's empanelment list for transportation planning consultants, was invited to submit technical and financial bids on Jan 22 this year. The university initially proposed Rs 3.25 crore on Feb 6, but agreed to Rs 3.10 crore after negotiations. Auda's board approved the appointment in June. In Dec 2014, Auda had developed the City Development Plan 2021. This too had transportation standards in focus. "The new development plan 2041 will be Auda's first comprehensive approach to 20-year transportation planning for an expanded metropolitan area of Ahmedabad," the official added.

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee stuns in gold bikini during Thailand beach vacation
Olympic gymnast Suni Lee stuns in gold bikini during Thailand beach vacation

Time of India

time11-07-2025

  • Time of India

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee stuns in gold bikini during Thailand beach vacation

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee stuns in gold bikini during Thailand beach vacation (Image via Getty) Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee surprised her fans with a tropical twist. Suni Lee shared Instagram vacation photos taken during her journey to Thailand on July 9, 2025. Everyone was really drawn to her gold bikini, which spread around social media fast. Images highlighting the various, more laid-back sides of the gymnastic fans love brightened Instagram feeds. Suni Lee shares gold bikini look while relaxing in Thailand Presently vacationing in Thailand, Suni Lee earned Team USA the gold medal for the all-around gymnastics competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On Tuesday, July 9, 2025, the 21-year-old posted a series of vacation photos from a beautiful beach on her certified Instagram account. Suni Lee is pictured wearing a glittering gold bikini next to clear blue seas and circled by palm trees in the photographs with a caption , 'I love it here.' Right away, fans praised her looks and much deserved hiatus from training; the article attracted thousands of likes and comments. She simply wrote captions for the post and allowed the images speak themselves. Fans, friends, and celebrities left flame and heart emojis in the comment section. The photos show Suni Lee relaxing in the sun and saying hello to some calm away from the gym. Suni Lee's fans celebrate her confidence and style Suni Lee is known worldwide for her hard work, talent, and dedication to gymnastics. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Concentrated Siberian Ginseng Extract 2oz Superior Ginseng Undo After her Olympic success, she also competed in college-level gymnastics for Auburn University. But her vacation photos gave fans a chance to see her off the mat, looking confident and happy. Also Read: Amanda Anisimova makes headlines at Wimbledon 2025 after beating Aryna Sabalenka and shares sweet message with sister and family Suni Lee has always inspired young athletes with her strength and determination. Her strong vacation post is now garnering accolades for highlighting confidence in a fresh way. Across sites like Instagram, Twitter (X), and TikTok, admirers are describing the time as "empowering" and "lovely. " The story was even picked up by big source, demonstrating how powerful Suni Lee's impact has grown outside of sports. Her admirers are cheering for every step of the way as Suni Lee keeps shining both inside and beyond the competitive arena. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store