4 Long-Term Fluctuations of Microbiological Water Quality in the Seine and Marne
Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
5 Sources of Fecal Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
6 The EU Bathing Water Directive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
7 Present Level of Fecal Bacteria Indicators in the Seine and Marne Rivers
in the Paris Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
7.1 The Main Factors Explaining the Distribution of E. coli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
7.2 Longitudinal Distributions of E. coli in the Urban Sections of the Seine and Marne
Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
8 Presence of Pathogens in the Seine and Marne Rivers in the Paris Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
8.1 Viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 343
8.2 Parasites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
9 Where to Now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
10 Conclusion . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 349
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Abstract 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. The last section concludes on the actions to be conducted to improve the
rivers’ microbiological quality in the coming years.
Keywords Bathing, Fecal indicator bacteria, LTSER “Zone Atelier Seine”,
Microbiology, Paris agglomeration, Pathogens, PIREN-Seine, Seine River
1 Introduction
Bathing activities have been observed for a very long time in the main rivers of the
Paris region (Fig. 1). 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
324
J.-M. Mouchel et al.
Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
5 Sources of Fecal Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
6 The EU Bathing Water Directive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
7 Present Level of Fecal Bacteria Indicators in the Seine and Marne Rivers
in the Paris Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
7.1 The Main Factors Explaining the Distribution of E. coli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
7.2 Longitudinal Distributions of E. coli in the Urban Sections of the Seine and Marne
Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
8 Presence of Pathogens in the Seine and Marne Rivers in the Paris Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
8.1 Viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 343
8.2 Parasites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
9 Where to Now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
10 Conclusion . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 349
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Abstract 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. The last section concludes on the actions to be conducted to improve the
rivers’ microbiological quality in the coming years.
Keywords Bathing, Fecal indicator bacteria, LTSER “Zone Atelier Seine”,
Microbiology, Paris agglomeration, Pathogens, PIREN-Seine, Seine River
1 Introduction
Bathing activities have been observed for a very long time in the main rivers of the
Paris region (Fig. 1). 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
324
J.-M. Mouchel et al.