Paris, France – With 28 days left until the start of the Summer Olympics, concerns arise as tests from the Seine River in Paris reveal high levels of E. coli contamination, posing a potential risk to athletes participating in water-based events.

The Eau de Paris monitoring group found that four different areas of the Seine River exceeded the safe limit of 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters, as set by the World Triathlon Federation. This contamination raises alarms for the triathlon events scheduled to take place from July 30 to August 5, as well as the marathon swimming races on August 8 and 9.

E. coli, a bacteria commonly associated with fecal matter, can lead to various health issues including diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and sepsis if ingested. Despite efforts to improve water quality, this marks the third consecutive week of unsafe bacteria levels in the river.

Paris had invested $1.5 billion in constructing infrastructure to prevent sewage from contaminating the river, but heavy rainfall in recent months has caused additional sewage and wastewater to flow into the waterway. Olympic organizers face the possibility of postponing events if the rainy weather persists.

Although there is no backup plan in place, officials remain optimistic about the river’s readiness for the Summer Olympics. French President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo have affirmed their commitment to ensuring the river’s cleanliness, with plans to swim in it themselves as a demonstration.

With the clock ticking down to the opening ceremony, the challenge of addressing water contamination in the Seine River looms large, highlighting the need for swift action to protect the health and safety of athletes and spectators during the upcoming Olympic Games.