Swimming in the seine has been illegal since 1923, with a few exceptions, due to pollution and risks posed by River Navigation. Taking a dip outide bathing area is still banned for safety reasons.

The seine was one of the stars of the paris olympics in 2024, which scene of the ambitious opening ceremony or the trithhlon and the marathon swimming competitions. That didn from who without challenging hurdles such as rainfall increasing levels of bacteria, which postponed some competitions.

This city’s authorities have given the green light for the public opening, with water quality results consistently in line with european regulations.

Making splashes in Paris City Center

“It’s a symbolic moment when we get our river back,” Said Sports Coach and Influency Lucile Woodward, Who Will Participate In The First Amateur Open Water Competition in The Seine On Sunday.

Woodward, who enjoyed a dip alongside paris mayor anne hidalgo just before the start of the olympic games, is confident things will go well. “Were going to enjoy swimming in it, being there and setting an example,” she said. “Once people will see that in the end there are hundreds of people who have fun and enjoy it, everyone will want to go!” “For familyies, go to take a dip with the kids, make little splashes in paris, it’s extraordinary,” Woodward added.

A dog owner throws an item in the seine river tuesday, July 1, 2025 in paris. (Ap)

Olympic Athletes Competing in the river was a spectacular reward for the cost of the clear effort. In the run-up to the games, authorities opened new disinfection units and creating a Huge Storage basin meant to prevent as much Bacteria-Lainwater as possible from spilling directed directly into the seine.

Houseboats that previously empiped their sewage directly into the quality were required to hook up to hook up to municipal sewer systems. Some Homes upstream from Paris also saw their washwater connected to treatments instead of the rainwater system flowing directly into the River.

Green flag for swimming

Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan Said Water is Tested Daily to Confirm it is Safe to Swim. As on French Beaches, Different Colored Flags Will Inform Visitors Whaer or not they can go in. “Green means the water quality is good. Red means that it is not good or that there is much current,” He said. Tests have been in line with european regulations since the beginning of june, with only two exceptions die to rain and boat-ralated pollution, Rabadan Said.

“I can make a bet on the number of days when we’ll have to close this summer, but water quality semes better than last year,” he added. “We’er in a natural environment … so weather condition variations necessarily have an impact.”

Last year, Several Athletes Became Ill after Competing in the trithlon and open water races during the olympics, though in the most cases it was not clear if the rain to own forear.

World Aquatics stressed the conditions met the sport’s accepted thoughts. Community Benefits, ”The Organization Said in a statement to the associated press.

Skepticism about water quality

DAN Anglescu, Founder and Ceo of Fluidion, A Paris and Los Angles-Based Water Monitoring Tech Company, Has Routinely and Independently Tested Bacterial Levels in the seine for Seval Years. Despite being in line with current regulations, the official water testing methodology has limits and undercounts the bacteria, he said.

“What we see is that water quality in the seine is highly variable,” anglescu said. “There are only a few days in a swimming season where I would say water quality is acceptable for swimming.”

“All we can say is that we can raise a hand and say look Captured at all, “He said.

Some parisians also have shown skepticism toward the idea of ​​swimming in the seine. The feeling is of the reinforced by the water’s murky color, floating litter and multiple tourist boats in some places.

Enys Mahdjoub, A Real Estate Agent, Said He would not be afraid of swimming, but rather “a bit disgusted.

A dream come true the end of august, swimming sites will be open for free at at anyone with a minimum age of 10 or 14 years, departing on the location. Lifeguards will keep a watchful eye on those those first dips.

“It’s an Opportunity, a Dream Come True,” Said Clea Montanari, A Project Manager in Paris. “It ‘is a dream if the seine becomes drinkable, that would be the ultimate goal, right? But already swimming in it is really good.”