PARIS, July 7, 2025, In a symbolic but short-lived moment, the Seine River opened to swimmers after 100 years, closing again the next day due to water contamination concerns.
On Saturday, July 5, nearly 3,000 people took part in the long-anticipated public swim event across three designated areas of the river. Temporary infrastructure like changing cabins, showers, and seating was installed for the occasion.
The event was part of a decades-long mission to make the Seine swimmable again. Since 1988, authorities have been investing in cleanup efforts to remove harmful bacteria and pollution from the water.
Despite those efforts, tests after Saturday’s swim revealed that the water still contained unsafe levels of bacteria, forcing officials to close the river to public access just one day after its historic reopening.
The reopening was seen as a major milestone for Paris’ environmental and urban revitalization goals, especially ahead of global events like the upcoming Olympics, where the Seine is expected to host triathlon and marathon swimming events.
Organizers say they are still confident that the Seine will be ready in time for the Olympics, but environmentalists argue that the problem has been underestimated for years.
Authorities are now facing renewed pressure to improve sewage and stormwater systems that often overflow into the river after heavy rainfall.
For now, the river remains off-limits to the public, though officials say further cleanup operations are underway to meet health safety standards.
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