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🗞️ Driving the news: Parisians swam in the Seine River this weekend for the first time in over a century, marking the reopening of the iconic waterway after a $1.5 billion clean-up linked to the 2024 Olympics
• Mayor Anne Hidalgo and environmental officials declared water quality safe, meeting European standards most days
• Designated bathing areas with strict safety measures opened to eager swimmers under scorching summer temperatures
🔭 The context: Swimming in the Seine was banned in 1923 due to high pollution and river traffic hazards
• The revival fulfills a long-standing pledge first articulated by Jacques Chirac in 1988 and accelerated by Olympic commitments to showcase environmental progress
• Decades of untreated sewage and urban runoff had degraded water quality, but sustained investments in wastewater infrastructure and monitoring have now made limited public bathing possible
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Seine clean-up underscores how urban waterways can be restored through coordinated investment, regulatory oversight, and public engagement
• As climate change intensifies heatwaves, cities face growing pressure to provide cooling and recreational access while maintaining ecological health
• The project also highlights how major events like the Olympics can drive long-term sustainability upgrades in host cities, though ongoing maintenance and vigilance are crucial
⏭️ What's next: Swimming will remain confined to monitored, designated areas until August 31, as authorities continue testing and enforcing safety rules
• Broader river access may depend on public confidence, debris management, and consistency of water quality during rainfall events
• The success of this summer’s pilot will likely influence future urban river restoration initiatives in Europe and beyond
💬 One quote: "It’s a childhood dream to have people swimming in the Seine." — Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris.
📈 One stat: The clean-up programme cost approximately $1.5 billion, achieving water quality compliant with EU standards on most days
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