Parisians and Tourists Can Once Again Swim in the Seine After Billion-Dollar Cleanup

After more than a century of bans and decades of cleanup efforts, Parisians and visitors can once again cool off by swimming in the Seine River.

Beginning Saturday, three free public swimming areas are opening along the Seine for the second summer in a row, giving residents and tourists a unique way to experience the French capital during the summer heat. The reopening comes as Paris continues to endure high temperatures, with another heatwave expected.

Swimming in the Seine was banned in 1923 because of safety concerns and worsening pollution. By the 1970s, the river had become so contaminated that much of its aquatic life had disappeared.

A massive cleanup effort, costing more than one billion euros, transformed the river ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Engineers upgraded Paris' wastewater system and built a giant underground basin to capture stormwater and prevent sewage from flowing into the river after heavy rain.

The investment has significantly improved water quality, allowing Olympic events to take place in the Seine and paving the way for public swimming to return. Officials monitor water quality daily, using a color-coded flag system to indicate whether conditions are safe.

The three designated swimming sites each offer a different experience, including views of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower and eastern Paris. While officials acknowledge the river isn't as crystal-clear as the Mediterranean, thousands of people embraced the opportunity last summer, helping revive a Paris tradition that dates back centuries.

CNN Newsource contributed to this report.

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