French authorities celebrated the inauguration of a vast water storage basin on Thursday, designed to enhance the cleanliness of the River Seine, chosen as the venue for marathon swimming at the upcoming Paris Games, as well as the swimming portion of the Olympic and Paralympic triathlons.

Sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra commended Paris for its ability to offer athletes from around the globe an exceptional environment along the Seine for their competitions.

Addressing Challenges and Implementing Solutions

The decision to construct the reservoir stemmed from last year’s cancellation of swimming test events due to poor water quality. One contributing factor was the heavy rainfall that overwhelmed the city’s outdated sewers, resulting in a mixture of rainwater and untreated sewage flowing into the Seine, thereby failing to meet safety standards.

Situated adjacent to Paris’ Austerlitz train station, the colossal reservoir is designed to accumulate excess rainwater and prevent bacteria-laden wastewater from contaminating the Seine. With a capacity equivalent to 20 Olympic swimming pools, the basin will now facilitate the treatment of contaminated water rather than its direct discharge into the river.

According to Marc Guillaume, the prefect of the Paris region, completion of the basin ensures that water quality aligns with competitive standards, marking a significant collective achievement.

Commitment from Leaders

Paris mayor Anne Hildago pledged to personally swim in the Seine prior to the Olympics, possibly accompanied by President Emmanuel Macron. She emphasized that the new storage basin guarantees water retention even during severe storms, expediting the return to normal water levels.

The inauguration of the basin is part of a broader initiative toward a cleaner river, which includes the recent opening of a water treatment facility in Champigny-sur-Marne, east of Paris.

Investment in Sustainability

The cleanup efforts, totaling an estimated 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion), have been funded by state and local authorities. Hidalgo highlighted the substantial improvement in Seine water quality over the past decade, leading to the resurgence of fish species and wildlife in the river.

With plans to open multiple bathing sites to the public in the coming summers, Paris aims to further revitalize the Seine, once primarily used for transportation and marred by pollution.

The River Seine will also play a central role in the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, featuring over 200 athlete delegations parading on more than 80 boats through central Paris.