For nearly a century, swimming in the River Seine has been against the law because of pollution levels.
But the 2024 Paris Olympic Games have led an effort to clean up the waterway so it can be used for open water and triathlon events in the Olympics.
The company Fluidion developed a technology of IoT measurement devices and sensors.
According to a DirectIndustry report, because of “the Fluidion ALERT system placed in key locations along the river, the city of Paris has moved away from the traditional methods of grab sampling and laboratory analysis. Instead, Fluidion provided an always-on, automated, cost-effective solution that streamlines real-time and high-frequency data to align with the Olympic committee’s strict safety requirements.”
The technology consists of dual in-situ bacteria sensors that allow daily readings.
According to the company: “Fluidion was able to respond to significant rain events and monitor CSO events with high-frequency sampling to accurately chart pollution dynamics and measure concentration peaks through detailed pollutographs – a feat achievable only with an automated analyzer like the ALERT System. Fluidion ALERT technology also indicated the duration for water quality to recover to its baseline quality levels.”
In addition to the technology, Fluidion has been in charge of continuous surveillance at strategic points along the Seine, notably near landmarks like the Bibliothèque Nationale, Pont de Iéna, Pont Marie, and Pont Alexandre III – the anticipated venues for Olympic swimming events, according to the report.
This was evident in August with heavy rainfall led to unhealthy levels of bacteria in the water, caught by the system – and the Open Water Swimming Cup was canceled. It showed the efficiency of the technology in real time.
Paris officials are so confident that the water will be at safe levels for the Olympics that Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has promised to swim in the Seine just before the Games begin.
“We will bathe in the Seine,” Hidalgo said in her New Year ceremony.