Although the water quality of the Seine has improved, Paris still faces significant challenges in ensuring that the population can enjoy safe bathing and even drinking water from the river. “We still have a long way to go to achieve completely safe and healthy levels in this river,” says César Pegoraro, environmental educator at the NGO SOS Mata Atlântica and professor of biology and ecology. “What I saw there was a surprisingly clean and even inviting river. There is a vast diversity of fish, and we see people rowing, kayaking and boating, in harmony with cargo and tourist vessels – it is a truly impressive urban setting.”
France has earmarked approximately €1.4 billion (about $1.3 billion) for new wastewater treatment facilities to reduce the amount of sewage discharged into the Seine. Despite these efforts, some Olympic training sessions have been canceled, and athletes have fallen ill due to the river's pollution.
According to Pegoraro, despite the investments, the Seine, because it is located in a metropolis, still suffers from so-called diffuse pollution. “This type of pollution often goes unnoticed, but it is extremely harmful to the quality of the rivers. It is the garbage that falls on the streets, the soot from vehicles, the oil from cars, the air pollution itself that settles on the ground and, with the rain, all of this ends up being carried into the river”, he explains.
For this reason, according to him, urban rivers "rarely achieve excellent quality, comparable to that of a river preserved in a natural environment". However, compared to Brazilian urban rivers, such as the Tietê in São Paulo, the Seine is in significantly better conditions for use by the population. Pegoraro emphasizes that Brazil can learn a lot from this experience. Although the investment is high, it is essential
continue to prioritize basic sanitation initiatives and promote environmental education.
“Basic sanitation should be seen as a citizenship project. As voters and taxpayers, we must demand this fundamental right, which is to guarantee basic sanitation in all homes and cities,” he argues. Furthermore, he emphasizes that investment must be accompanied by a change in collective consciousness: “It is not enough to simply invest financial resources and time if there is no change in people’s mindset.”
This integrative approach suggests that, in addition to physical infrastructure, it is crucial to develop a sense of environmental responsibility among citizens. Only then will it be possible not only to improve the quality of water in urban rivers, but also to ensure that these advances are sustainable and long-lasting. The example of the Sena shows that, with the appropriate combination of public policies, investments and awareness, it is possible to reverse environmental degradation and provide a healthier environment for the population.
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