(Photo by Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images)
Early in the Olympics, the Seine River – a romantic icon of Paris – was too polluted to allow Olympic athletes to hold the swimming leg of their triathlons. Officials canceled two training swims and postponed the men’s triathlon when Tuesday’s freshwater samples revealed unacceptable levels of E. coli bacteria.
The events took place Wednesday, July 31, after the water was deemed low enough in bacterial count for swimming.
At 3:20 a.m., the results of the water quality analysis showed that the water complied with regulations to allow the men’s and women’s triathlons to proceed. The World Triathlon (an organization with a regional environmentalist, the city of Paris, and the prefect of the region) made the declaration.
Cassandre Beauregard, representing France, won the women’s event. Alex Yee, of Great Britain, won the men’s competition when a dramatic surge of energy as he approached the finish line carried him past the leader.
Water quality of the Seine is an ongoing concern that started more than a hundred years ago. That’s how long it’s been illegal to swim in the river. France spent $1.5 billion over nine years to bring the river into compliance for the Olympics. The heavy rainfall, especially marking the opening events, overwhelmed the city’s archaic water system, forcing untreated sewage into the river.
Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen, who finished 24th in the event, blasted Olympic officials who called the race to be held. While she admitted that a cancellation would have been a disgrace, Vermeylen told UK’s Metro that she didn’t think the water was safe enough to swim in.
“While swimming under the bridge, I felt and saw things that we shouldn’t think about too much,” Vermeylen said. “I drank a lot of water, so we’ll know tomorrow if I’m sick or not. It doesn’t taste like Coca-Cola or Sprite, of course. The Seine has been dirty for a hundred years, so they can’t say the safety of the athletes is a priority. That’s bulls—,” Vermeylen added.
How dangerous is contaminated water?
Swimming in water contaminated with E. coli bacteria puts you at risk for a gastrointestinal system with nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
There are a host of other bacteria and viruses found in contaminated water. The most prevalent illnesses for which you may be at risk include:
- Salmonellosis: A bacterial infection caused by Salmonella that can cause fever, severe diarrhea, and other symptoms
- Campylobacteriosis: A bacterial illness caused by Campylobacter that causes diarrhea.
- Shigellosis: An illness caused by the Shigella bacteria that causes fever, stomach pain, and diarrhea
The most common way people can get these illnesses is by accidentally swallowing contaminated water. It’s very hard when you’re swimming not to get small, microscopic amounts of water in your mouth. The exact amount it would take to make you sick depends on the bacteria and concentration in the water.
While gastrointestinal infections are the most common illnesses people can face after swimming in contaminated water, skin rashes and eye infections can also occur.
A rare infection is primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Amoebas are single-celled organisms. The so-called brain-eating amoeba’s formal name is Naegleria fowleri. It usually lurks in warm freshwater bodies or untreated, contaminated waters. When it finds its way inside the human body, it causes a rare, yet deadly infection and inflammation in the brain and eventually destroys the brain tissue by “eating” it. You can only get it when contaminated water with the brain-eating amoeba goes up your nose.
Water contamination can occur anywhere. Danger rises with a rising bacterial count. Water testing is done all over the U.S., with special attention to E. coli levels. State and local agencies do the testing. Standards vary by region.
When the freshwater bacterial count exceeds the threshold for danger at beaches and swimming areas, local authorities usually post warning signs. You can also check the websites of your state’s Department of Natural Resources or the local/regional Public Health Department to check the water quality where you want to swim. Heed the warnings!
