Can Paris fix its poop problem before the Olympics?

Summary

The script discusses the challenges Paris faces in preparing for the 2024 Summer Olympics, particularly the plan to hold open water swimming events in the Seine River, which has been polluted for a century. Despite the city's ambitious underground infrastructure project to mitigate sewage overflow, recent water tests revealed high E. coli levels, posing health risks. The Austerlitz Basin, part of a $1.5 billion project, aims to reduce combined sewer overflow but does not guarantee swimmability. The success of the events and the mayor's and president's promises to swim in the Seine hinge on overcoming these environmental hurdles.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ Paris is hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics with the Seine River as a central feature, including an historic opening ceremony.
• 🌊 The Seine has been historically polluted, with swimming banned for a century due to sewage overflow during heavy rain.
• 🏊‍♂️ Open water swimming events were planned for the Olympics, but water quality concerns with E. coli have been a challenge.
• 👍 Mayor Anne Hidalgo and President Emmanuel Macron expressed confidence in the river's cleanliness, even pledging to swim in it.
• 🚧 A massive underground infrastructure project, costing 1.5 billion USD, was built to manage sewage overflow and improve the Seine's quality.
• 🔄 The Austerlitz Basin, part of the project, is designed to hold excess water during heavy rains to prevent sudden contamination of the Seine.
• 🌐 Similar issues with water quality have affected past Olympic Games in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.
• 🚫 A preliminary event in the Seine in August 2023 was canceled due to high E. coli levels, indicating ongoing water quality issues.
• 📉 The goal is to reduce the number of times sewer overflow gates need to be opened into the Seine, from 10-15 times to twice a year.
• 🏞️ Beyond the Olympics, Paris aims to make the Seine swimmable for the public, with plans to open swimming sites post-Olympics in 2025.

Q & A

Why was the Seine River considered a key feature for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris?

The Seine River was considered a key feature for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris because it runs along some of the city's most famous landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, and the mayor, Anne Hidalgo, wanted to use it for an historic opening ceremony and open water swimming events.

Why has swimming in the Seine been banned for a century?

Swimming in the Seine has been banned for a century due to the presence of human waste in the river, which is a result of sewage overflow during heavy rain when the city's underground sewer systems get overwhelmed.

What infrastructure project has been built near the Seine to address water quality issues for the Olympics?

An enormous underground infrastructure project, including the Austerlitz Basin, has been built near the Seine with a 13.2 million gallon capacity underground reservoir and tunnel to prevent sudden contamination from combined sewer overflow and ensure water quality for the Olympics.

What are the water quality standards for open water swimming events during the Olympics?

For an open water swimming event to be approved, water samples must not exceed 1,000 colony forming units (cfu) of E. coli per 100ml of water and 400 cfu of enterococci, which are bacteria associated with feces.

What is the significance of the Austerlitz Basin in the context of the 2024 Olympics?

The Austerlitz Basin is part of a 1.5 billion USD infrastructure project aimed at cleaning up the Seine. It serves to hold excess water during heavy rainstorms, preventing the sewers from becoming overwhelmed and reducing the frequency of sewer overflow into the Seine.

What challenges have been faced in the journey to clean up the Seine for the Olympics?

Challenges include the cancellation of a preliminary event in August 2023 due to unacceptable levels of E. coli in the water, and the ongoing need to manage combined sewer overflow to prevent sudden contamination.

How does a combined sewer system contribute to water contamination during heavy rain?

A combined sewer system, used in many cities, handles both wastewater and stormwater. During heavy rain, the sewers can become too full, leading to the partial redirection of the excess combined wastewater and stormwater to nearby waterways, causing a spike in E. coli levels.

What is the role of the BetterHelp sponsor mentioned in the script?

BetterHelp is an online therapy service sponsor mentioned in the script that offers a platform for individuals to connect with licensed therapists for mental health support, which is unrelated to the main topic of the Seine River and the Olympics.

What is the long-term vision for the Seine River beyond the 2024 Olympic Games?

The long-term vision for the Seine River includes making it swimmable again for Parisians, with plans to open three swimming sites to the general public in 2025, thanks to the efforts initiated for the Olympic Games.

What is the current situation regarding the plan to host the opening ceremony along the Seine?

French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated that there are backup plans for the opening ceremony if the security risk due to water quality is too high, suggesting that the final decision will depend on conditions closer to the event.

How will the possibility of open water swimming events being held be determined during the Olympics?

The possibility of open water swimming events will be determined hours before the events based on water quality tests, and they will be at the mercy of weather conditions, particularly rain, which could affect water quality.