Is the Berlin Spree cleaner than the Paris Seine?
The murky waters of the Seine River forced the postponement of the Olympic triathlon in Paris. But is the Spree in Berlin, Germany’s capital, any cleaner?
France has invested heavily in cleaning the Seine, but even after these measures, the river still failed to meet water quality standards for the Olympics. What about Berlin?
The state of the Spree’s water quality:
While the Spree is not as polluted as the Seine, concerns remain about its suitability for swimming. Unlike the Seine, which has a combined sewer system, the Spree has a separated system for rainwater and wastewater in most areas. However, heavy rainfall can still lead to overflows and pollution.
Can swimming competitions take place?
Swimming competitions could potentially take place in the Spree’s suburban area, which has a separate sewer system. However, the Spree’s central, urban section remains heavily polluted, making official swimming events unlikely.
Measures to improve water quality:
Berlin is taking steps to address the issue. Underground storage facilities and decentralized stormwater management are being implemented to reduce pollution. However, large-scale measures to make the Spree suitable for permanent bathing are deemed too expensive.
The “River Bath Berlin” project:
This ongoing project aims to ecologically clean the Spree Canal, potentially making it suitable for bathing. However, safety concerns, including water quality and boat traffic, remain unresolved.
Conclusion:
While efforts are underway to improve the Spree’s water quality, it remains unclear if the Spree will ever be clean enough for safe swimming. The “River Bath Berlin” project offers hope, but its success remains uncertain.