This means there’s no way to assess the sanitary implications of a higher comprehensive count of E. coli, said Françoise Lucas, a professor at Paris-Est Créteil University.
“Wanting to know the true bacteria concentration is an illusion,” Lucas said. “There’s no ideal method, they all have their own biases.”
All rivers flow to Brussels
Then there’s the issue with the EU standards themselves.
“Overall, we [the EU] are more lenient than in other countries,” said Mouchel, the professor studying the Seine.
The current EU framework was adopted in 2006 and was set for an update in early 2023. That hasn’t happened yet.
Some NGOs and lawmakers working on the subject say the 2006 standards are outdated, as they do not account for other types of pollution from microplastics or chemicals.
“Europe must play its role of supervisor and protector, not only against microbiological pollution but also chemical pollution,” European Parliament lawmaker Yvan Verougstraete, with the centrist Renew Europe group, said in a statement during the Olympics.
Yet updates would require the EU to reassess all its beaches, swimming holes and lakeside lounging spots — and go after any that no longer comply.
“Then it’s a political question of how many beaches we want to shut down,” Mouchel said. “That’s another story.”
Beyond the scientific debates, everyone agrees the Seine’s swimming saga has prompted much-needed infrastructure investments that will benefit the public whether swimming starts next year or not.
Just since the city’s new wastewater basins began working in June, the river has already seen massive improvements in quality. And maybe now, people will think twice about tossing that cigarette butt on the street, knowing it often will end up in the Seine.
“Without ambition, you don’t do anything,” Mouchel said — but that doesn’t mean skeptics will soon be dipping their toes in the water.
“When our data will say that we can swim, I will,” said Angelescu, the Fluidion CEO.
