Seine water quality ‘marginally acceptable’ at latest Olympics race, new samples show

PARIS — The Seine’s water quality was satisfactory during the Olympics’ triathlon relay race on Monday, the latest testing results revealed.
During the race, the levels of E. coli bacteria in the river were measured at 418 colony-forming units (CFU) of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water, well within the safety standard for swimming events set at 1,000 E. coli/100mL, according to testing results published late Monday by Fluidion, a company monitoring pollution levels in the Seine.
But the comprehensive count of E. coli — a new metric that measures the actual number of bacteria in the water, whereas the other test only counts bundles of bacteria — was 1,001 E. coli/100mL, just above the limit, resulting in “marginally acceptable water quality,” the company said.
“It’s a notable milestone,” it added, in reference to the progress made in cleaning up the river. “Though the precise count of 1,001 E. coli/100 mL serves as a reminder that this discussion is far from being over!”
Due to the lack of in-depth studies on the topic, it’s difficult to assess the sanitary implications of a higher comprehensive count of E. coli, a hazardous bacteria that can lead to illnesses like intestinal infections and conjunctivitis.
The Games’ organizers said at a press conference on Tuesday that water quality was between “very good” and “good” on the morning of the race, with E. coli levels below the limit on all four measuring points in the river.
Before the relay race, the Olympics’ organizers said pollution levels in the river exceeded the limit in one out of four measuring points but had been deemed acceptable by the athletes.
The French authorities have vowed to clean up the Seine in time for the Paris Olympics, investing €1.4 billion to do so, with the ultimate goal of allowing public swimming in the river — which has been banned for a century due to high pollution levels — starting next year.
The triathlon’s relay race is the third Olympic trial that took place in the Seine.
After the first two races, two triathletes from Belgium and Switzerland fell sick. The head of the Swiss triathlon federation later told Franceinfo that the Swiss athlete’s symptoms were not consistent with “bacteria pollution,” while the Belgian Olympic Committee did not elaborate on the Belgian athlete’s condition.