2024-07-25 23:42:43
The Surfrider Foundation, a non-governmental organization that tested the Seine’s water for dangerous bacteria, was not given permission to take new measurements before the opening of the Paris Olympics.
As reported by Day.Az, this was reported to TASS by the organization’s press service representative Lionel Sheilus.
“No samples will be taken before the opening ceremony, as we have not been able to access the competition venues in the last few days. Since our request for permission has remained unanswered, we cannot take additional samples,” he said. Since June 2024, due to the installation of stands on the lower embankment, NPO has lost the ability to take water samples near the Alma Bridge, and was also forced to shift the water sampling point near the Alexander III Bridge by 40 m.
The Surfrider Foundation’s latest report was published on July 16. According to samples taken on July 4, the concentration of E. coli bacteria was 890 colony-forming units per 100 ml of water, close to the maximum allowed by the International Swimming and Triathlon Federations (1,000 units per 100 ml). The concentration of enterococci was 290 units per 100 ml, compared to the maximum allowed level of 400 units, when the water is considered unsuitable. The Paris City Hall conducted its own measurements during the same period, which showed similar but lower bacterial concentrations.
At the same time, the standards of the National Agency for Sanitary Safety (Anses) of France allow significantly higher maximum values for the content of these bacteria in water: 1.8 thousand colony-forming units per 100 ml of water for E. coli and 660 units for enterococci. According to both classifications, the water is considered “medium quality”, but suitable for swimming and for competitions.