2024-07-03 09:26:54
Less than a month before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Gameshe Seine river It is still not ready due to two problems: excessive flow rate and high concentration of bacteria.
The Seine, which runs through the French capital, will be the star of the Olympic Games, as it will be the main stage for the opening ceremony, scheduled for July 26. It will also be a key part of the triathlon and open water swimming events.
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Bacteria in the Seine
Since the second week of June – from June 10 to 16 – the level of Escherichia Coli exceeded one thousand units almost every day, forming one colony (CFU) per 100 ml.
According to the latest results of water quality analyses published by French authorities on Friday, covering data from 17 to 23 June, a significant increase in concentrations of faecal bacteria such as E. coli and enterococci has been revealed.
The concentrations of both fecal bacteria must not exceed 1,000 and 400 units per ml of water, in order for sports to be authorized in the river.
However, at the beginning of the week, the concentration of Escherichia coli reached a peak of 13,000 units, although during the weekend it fell to between 2,000 and 6,000 units. Meanwhile, enterococci, whose values must be between 100 and 500 CFU/100 ml, exceeded the barrier of 1,000 units and even, at times, 2,000.
“Water quality remains degraded due to an unfavourable hydrological context: rain, high flow, little sunlight, temperatures below normal for this time of year and pollution upstream,” said the city council and the prefecture.
Increase in water
The bacteriological problem is not the only problem facing the Seine River, but also its flow, which was six times higher than usual.
Its highest peak was reached on Sunday, June 23, with 666 cubic meters per second, when the normal amount during this rainy season is between 100 and 150 cubic meters.
Although the water level has receded since last Thursday, the rehearsal for the opening ceremony – which was to take place on Monday, June 24 – had to be postponed.
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According to the authorities, the excessive flow is not only dangerous for swimmers, but also poses a problem for the nautical parade planned for the opening ceremony, as it would increase the speed of the boats and disrupt the timing of a show that is precisely calculated.
The French meteorological agency has forecast that the rain will continue into the first week of July. The organisers of the Games, for their part, remain confident that everything will be resolved before the opening.
EAM
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2024-07-03 09:26:54