You have full access to this open access chapter. This chapter presents the historical aspects regarding swimming in rivers in the Paris region since the seventeenth century, including the concept of fecal contamination indicator bacteria FIBs developed at the very beginning of the twentieth century, and historical contamination data covering more than one century in the Paris agglomeration. The sources of microbiological contamination of river waters are quantified, showing the importance of rain events.
The present contamination levels are presented with reference to the European Directive for bathing water quality. FIB levels show that the sufficient quality for bathing is not reached yet in any of the monitored stations.
A comprehensive data set regarding waterborne pathogens viruses, Giardia , Cryptosporidium in the Seine and Marne rivers is presented as a necessary complement to the regulatory FIB data to better evaluate health risks. You have full access to this open access chapter, Download chapter PDF. Bathing activities have been observed for a very long time in the main rivers of the Paris region Fig.
They were progressively banned during the twentieth century mainly because of the significant degradation of water quality, most particularly microbiological quality of surface waters, which presents a major health challenge. Contaminated water can contain various types of pathogenic microorganisms bacteria, viruses, parasitic protozoa likely to cause various types of infections gastrointestinal, respiratory, ocular, cutaneous in humans.
The main source of these microbial contaminants is the digestive tract of humans and warm-blooded animals or the aquatic environment itself. Microbial contaminants may reach the aquatic environment via wastewater treatment plant discharges, urban combined sewer overflows, sanitation system failures, agricultural and urban runoff, and direct dejection of breeding or wild animals. Situation map.
