Why in news?
For the first time since 1923, sections of the Seine River in Paris were opened for public swimming in July 2025. The move comes after years of clean‑up efforts ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics (postponed events continued into 2025), where triathlon and marathon swimming events are planned in the river.
About the Seine
- The Seine flows 775 km through northern France, rising at Source‑Seine near Dijon and passing through Troyes, Paris and Rouen before emptying into the English Channel at Le Havre.
- It has long been a lifeline for commerce, transport and culture. Paris grew on its banks, with iconic bridges and quays designated UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- The river is tidal up to Rouen, allowing seagoing vessels to reach inland ports. A small tidal bore called the mascaret occasionally travels upstream.
Pollution and clean‑up
- Industrial discharge and sewage: By the mid‑20th century, untreated sewage and industrial effluents had turned the Seine into a polluted waterway unfit for swimming. Fish species dwindled and algal blooms were common.
- Regulatory measures: Beginning in the 1980s, France invested in modern wastewater treatment plants, improved sewerage systems and stricter industrial controls. The “Seine Clean‑Up Plan” launched in 2018 accelerated these efforts with an eye on the Olympics.
- Restoring biodiversity: Today, over 30 species of fish have returned. The water quality meets EU bathing standards, though heavy rains can still cause sewage overflows.
Significance
- The reopening symbolises a successful urban river revival that combines infrastructure upgrades with public awareness. It offers Parisians new recreational spaces and reconnects the city with its river.
- During the Olympics and future events, swimmers will start from temporary floating platforms and follow designated lanes monitored by lifeguards and water‑quality sensors.
- The project serves as inspiration for river‑cleaning initiatives worldwide, including India’s Ganga and Yamuna rejuvenation programmes.