Photo from NBC Sports

Apropos of the 2024 Olympic Games, both media and word of mouth has been spreading concerns about the safety and cleanliness of the Seine River: a massive, 483 mile-long river in which its basin covers a considerable portion of Northern France. It is at the Seine where the opening ceremony occurred; hosting a grad queen-centered fashion vignette, a colorful water display, and a parade of boats holding the vivacious spirits of each 206 Olympic teams. The river is also to host the swimming portion of the men’s triathlon.

The Seine River is known to be incredibly polluted. For centuries, the river has suffered as a reserve for wastewater, “forever chemicals,” and bacteria such as E.coli. Swimming in the Seine has been banned since 1923 — over a century. The Seine, however, is not the only befouled body of water in Europe. The continent has had historic issue with managing agriculture, sewage, and industry runoff, causing an incorrigible slew of toxins.

Think of the Thames that flows through London. In the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, London’s poor sewage systems allowed waste to directly deposit into the river, causing the “Great Stink” of 1858.

According to the European Environment Agency, around 60% of EU rivers, wetlands, and lakes are “not healthy,” meaning notably polluted.

France had spent 1.4 billion euros to prepare and clean out the Seine. One major project was the construction of a large basin intended for capturing excess wastewater and rainwater. Sewage infrastructure and treatment had been updated as well. The Austerlitz train station’s basing, however, became steadily filled with rainwater following last Friday’s precipitation.

To demonstrate that the river has been successfully cleaned, Mayor Anne Hidalgo of Paris briefly swam around in the Seine two weeks before the Olympics began. Despite trying to alleviate concerns, the men’s triathlon has been postponed several times due to the constant need to re-test the water after Friday’s rainfall.

Personal Note

The world still has a long ways to go to fix these centuries-long issues. Water is the giver of life; water makes up most of the human body, and we can learn, heal, and be born from its properties. Yet, humans have become parasitic to the health of the earth’s rivers and oceans, polluting this precious resource to unnecessary degrees.

Have we turned a blind eye to mass marine deaths? To the eras of acid rain? To the increased frequencies of floods and droughts? To the lead and microplastics in our drinking water?

The concerns about Paris’ rivers are valid. It may be costly to clean them and test them so frequently, but it is a high necessity nonetheless. To think that so many urban cities are ineloquently located near “dog water” is a great misfortune, and an ultimate hazard to human health and the flora and fauna around us.

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The High Priestess Arcana is a signifier for wisdom and truth. We must remember to pay attention to the circumstances around us, and unravel bitter realities.

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