Paris closes Seine to swimmers 1 day after ending ban
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Paris shuts Seine swim spots day after reopening due to rain
Red flags flew over the three designated swimming zones in the French capital on Sunday, warning would-be bathers that the Seine was off-limits due to water quality concerns. The closures came just a day after the river’s triumphant reopening, which capped a years-long effort to clean up the waterway. The seasonal opening of the river for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, when open-water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters. But on rainy days, the mid-19th-century Parisian sewage system often overflows.
Rainfall on Sunday, July 6, temporarily shut down three Seine swimming sites in Paris according to the city hall website, just one day after the river reopened to bathers for the first time in a century. Red flags flew over the three designated swimming zones in the French capital on Sunday, warning would-be bathers that the Seine was off-limits due to water quality concerns caused by the wet weather.
The closures came just a day after the river’s triumphant reopening, which capped a years-long effort to clean up the Seine, with bathers of all ages diving in for the first time since the practice was banned in 1923. But on rainy days, the mid-19th-century Parisian sewage system often overflows, causing rain and waste waters to pour into the river.
Read more Watch: Parisians take first dip in the Seine
To mitigate the risk, city officials said that the Seine would be assessed daily for the presence of the faecal bacteria escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci. Flags inform bathers about pollution levels in the water every day, and if it rains, the sites will likely close the day after, said Paris city official Pierre Rabadan.
Another site along the Canal St-Martin in eastern Paris was set to welcome its first swimmers on Sunday but remained closed over the rain, which “compromises water quality,” according to the local town hall on X.
The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, when open-water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters, which were specially cleaned for the event. Ahead of the Olympic Games, authorities invested approximately €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) in improving the Seine’s water quality.
Read more Subscribers only Paris to open three swimming sites in the Seine starting July 5
Record rainfall during the Games led to the cancellation of six of the 11 competitions held on the river. The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-mayor of Paris and future president Jacques Chirac first advocated for its reversal, around 65 years after the practice was banned.
Paris Lifts Century-Long Swimming Ban — Then Reinstates Ban 1 Day Later Due to Pollution
Swimming had been banned in Paris’ Seine river since 1923 due to health concerns. City officials reevaluated the water for pathogens, such as E. coli and enterococci, that may have been washed into the river by rainwater runoff. Six events that had been planned to be held in the river were cancelled.
After dozens of people swam in Paris’ Seine river on Saturday, the city was forced to close several designated swimming spots after rain sparked health concerns, Le Monde reported.
Three sites were closed Sunday as a result while city officials reevaluated the water for pathogens, such as E. coli and enterococci, that may have been washed into the river by rainwater runoff.
Swimming had been banned in the river since 1923 due to health concerns. However, the river has undergone extensive cleanup efforts in recent years, particularly in preparation for the 2024 Olympics, where open-water swimmers and triathletes were able to complete their events in the river.
But although those Olympians were able to compete in the Seine, six events that had been planned to be held in the river were cancelled after rainfall once again raised concerns.
Paris city official Pierre Rabadan said that the swimming spots will likely close after every rainfall to allow for health officials to reassess the areas, as reported by France 24.
Originally published on Latin Times
After a $1.5 billion cleanup, the Seine reopens for swimming
Parisians and tourists were able to swim in France’s Seine River for the first time in over a century. The river has been closed off to swimmers since 1923, when it was deemed too polluted. The three swimming sites are free at scheduled times and will allow about 1,000 swimmers per day during the swimming season, which lasts until late August. The all-clear is not indefinite: City officials will continue to monitor bacteria levels daily to determine if the river is safe.
Though the city has talked about cleaning up the Seine since the 1990s, the real push came in 2015 when Paris made a bid to host the 2024 Olympics. In that nine-year span, enough progress was made that open-water swimming races were held in the waterway. Even Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip last summer to prove the river was clean enough to host competitions.
The three swimming sites are free at scheduled times and will allow about 1,000 swimmers per day during the swimming season, which lasts until late August.
Each of the three swimming locations has a lifeguard on duty as well as changing rooms, showers, and beach-style furniture.
Additional swimming spots on the Seine located outside of Paris are due to open in the near future.
To ensure the river was Olympic-ready, Paris invested $1.5 billion into the cleanup effort, known as the “Swimming Plan.” As a result, more than 20,000 homes that were previously dumping wastewater into the Seine have now been integrated into the sewer system, significantly reducing the amount of pollution seeping into the river.
However, the all-clear is not indefinite: city officials will continue to monitor bacteria levels daily to determine if the river is safe to swim in, and green and red flags will mark whether or not swimmers can take a dip. On Sunday, just one day after the river’s grand reopening, the flags were red after that day’s rainfall brought levels of bacteria to an unsafe point. Heavy rains can overwhelm the newly built cisterns, which can hold up to 13 million gallons of wastewater that would otherwise go directly into the Seine.
On the days that bear a green flag, the three swimming locations will allow about 1,000 visitors a day until the end of August.
Advocates fighting to reclaim the Seine for swimming have said that public waterways will be an effective way for people to cool down during increasingly hot summers, according to The Guardian.
‘Childhood dream’: Seine reopens to Paris swimmers after century-long ban
The River Seine reopened to swimmers in Paris on Saturday morning, marking the first time since 1923 that bathers could take a dip in the iconic waterway following a years-long cleanup effort. The opening comes after the French capital during the week endured a major heatwave that saw Paris put on the weather agency’s highest alert level during a Europe-wide heatwave. “Look at how happy everyone is,” said Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo at the swim zone in the city’s historic centre near Ile Saint-Louis. “I’ve dreamed so many times of swimming across the Seine, whether it was allowed or not. So now it’s great, I don’t even have to cheat!” said one of the swimmers before diving in. “The water quality is “exceptional”, said Marc Guillaume, the prefect for the Ile-de France region that includes Paris. “It’s a childhood dream to have people swimming in the Seina,” said Hidal go.
A 95-year-old Parisian was among the first to take the plunge at a newly opened swim zone in the city’s east — one of three sites in the French capital where visitors can officially hop in the Seine for the first time in more than a century.
“I’m so happy! I’ve dreamed of swimming in the Seine for years,” said Ingrid, who declined to give her last name, as she stepped carefully into the warm water wearing a turquoise-blue swimsuit.
Chantal Eyboulet, wearing a fluorescent pink swimming cap, shared in the excitement.
“I’ve been waiting 30 years for this,” said the 61-year-old engineer from Paris after completing a lap.
The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, when open-water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters which were specially cleaned for the event.
Earlier on Saturday, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo looked on as people of all ages arrived for the 8:00 am (0600 GMT) opening of the Bras Marie swimming zone, snapping on swim caps and goggles as they prepared to dive in and celebrate the long-awaited return of bathing in the Seine.
“It’s a childhood dream to have people swimming in the Seine,” said Hidalgo at the swim zone in the city’s historic centre near Ile Saint-Louis.
“Look at how happy everyone is,” she said with a smile.
The swimming zones are equipped with changing rooms, showers, and beach-style furniture, offering space for 150 to 300 people to relax, lay out their towels, and unwind from the city’s hustle and bustle.
For those still unsure about diving in, Paris officials say they have taken several measures to ensure swimmers can safely enjoy the long-anticipated reopening, including daily water pollution testing.
“The water quality is “exceptional”, said Marc Guillaume, the prefect for the Ile-de France region that includes Paris.
But officials reminded swimmers of potential dangers, including strong currents, boat traffic, and an average depth of 3.5 metres (11 feet).
To mitigate that risk, lifeguards will assess visitors’ swimming abilities before allowing independent access, while a decree issued in late June introduced fines for anyone swimming outside designated areas.
Weather permitting, Parisians and locals can swim under the watchful eye of lifeguards at the three bathing sites, including one a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower until the end of August.
– ‘Like a mermaid’ –
The opening comes after the French capital during the week endured a major heatwave that saw Paris put on the weather agency’s highest alert level during a Europe-wide heatwave.
Hidalgo, who took the inaugural swim last year, said that cleaning up the Seine for the Olympics was not the final goal but part of a broader effort to adapt the city to climate change and enhance quality of life.
“Heatwaves are only going to increase”, the Paris mayor said, adding creating safe swim spaces will foster a “happier, and undoubtedly more peaceful life with our fellow citizens”.
One of the swimmers said she was thrilled about the Seine’s re-opening.
“I feel like a mermaid,” said Isabel Bertelot, 65, who lives on the other side of the river from the Bercy site.
“I’ve dreamed so many times of swimming across the Seine, whether it was allowed or not. So now it’s great, I don’t even have to cheat!” she added before diving in.
– ‘Collective effort’ –
The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-mayor of Paris and future president Jacques Chirac first advocated for its reversal, around 65 years after the practice was banned in 1923.
“One of my predecessors (Chirac), then mayor of Paris, dreamed of a Seine where everyone could swim,” President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, describing the move as the result of a “collective effort” and a moment of “pride” for France.
Ahead of the Olympic Games, authorities invested approximately 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to improve the Seine’s water quality.
Since then, work carried out upstream promises even better water quality — with one catch.
On rainy days, the mid-19th-century Parisian sewage system often overflows, causing rain and waste waters to pour into the river.
Flags will inform bathers about pollution levels in the water every day, and if it rains, the sites will likely close the day after, said Paris city official Pierre Rabadan.
Swimmers may be in luck this year, though, with weather predicted to be drier than the record rainfall during the Games, which led to the cancellation of six of the 11 competitions held on the river.
The swimming spots are open to the public for free until August 31.
juc-str-ekf/yad
Seine closes to swimmers a day after its historic reopening
Parts of the Seine River closed down to swimmers on Sunday due to heavy rainfall, just one day after it reopened to the public for the first time in a century. The Seine stopped swimming over a century ago due to concerns over the levels of water pollution that could make people ill. The wet weather raised concerns over water quality in the river, Paris City Hall said. City officials said the river would be assessed daily for the presence of the faecal bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococci. If it rains, the sites will likely close, Paris city official Pierre Rabadan explained. Paris will now join a number of European cities with safe-to-swim waters – so long as the rain holds off.
Parts of the Seine River closed down to swimmers on Sunday due to heavy rainfall, just one day after it reopened to the public for the first time in a century.
Swimming in Paris’ Seine River has been closed off to members of the public since 1923, but on Saturday morning the river lifted the swimming ban.
However, those who missed the inaugural day and planned to head down to the Seine on Sunday would have found its swimming areas shut once again.
The Seine stopped swimming over a century ago due to concerns over the levels of water pollution that could make people ill.
The day after excited swimmers took to the waters in its three designated areas for public bathing, the celebrations were dampened when red flags flew over the zones.
The wet weather raised concerns over water quality in the river, Paris City Hall said. City officials said the Seine would be assessed daily for the presence of the faecal bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococci.
Flags will inform bathers every day about the pollution levels, and if it rains, the sites will likely close, Paris city official Pierre Rabadan explained, according to Le Monde.
Another site along the Canal St-Martin in eastern Paris was also due to welcome its first swimmers on Sunday but remained closed over the rain, which “compromises water quality”, the local town hall said.
A woman dives in the water as people swim at the Pont Marie safe bathing site on the Seine River in Paris on Saturday (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Eve Plenel, the head of public health at Paris City Hall, told The Telegraph: “The water goes through a circuit… and if it is not swimmable, we will not open it for the day or until it gets better.
“So it’s impossible to open the swim station without being sure the water is absolutely clear and OK and no risk for public health.”
As for how often the swimming zones would be closed, Ms Plenel said: “It obviously depends on the weather.”
“If it rains a lot or there is any localised pollution anywhere on the Seine, then it can affect quality, of course that can happen.
“It’s just like any beach in the summer. Sometimes beaches are polluted or closed and this is exactly the same.”
Swimmers have been allowed to return to the Seine following a €1.4bn (£1.2bn) cleanup project tied to the Paris Olympics that hosted open water swimmer triathletes in its waters.
After improving the water quality for the Games, authorities made a historic decision to reopen the Seine to bathers and constructed two new wooden decks.
The idea has been floated since 1988, when then-mayor and future president Jacques Chirac promised to clear up the river within six years.
While it took longer than expected, Paris will now join a number of European cities with safe-to-swim waters – so long as the rain holds off.
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