Questionable Parisian Water
There are 109 Wallace Fountains that can be found throughout Paris, all of which have been a beautiful and innovative way to bring people drinkable water since the late 19th century. They are named after Englishman Sir Richard Wallace, who, in love with the city of Paris, also realized the crisis that was the distribution and accessibility of clean water to the poor. He, along with sculptor Charles-Auguste Lebourg, sketched and designed the detailed cast-iron sculptures that continue to dispense water for people from their intricate pieces of art.
Paris offers its residents and tourists over 1,200 fountains dispensing free drinkable water across the city at the push of a button, mostly in parks and gardens but also found along streets and in public transportation stations; they are easily found on the directory map. There are even 17 fountains in Paris that offer free sparkling water. These are all installed, paid for, and maintained by the town hall and the municipality.
We have the water in the Seine, running right through the center of the city, to thank for Paris being built. The history of water is long and intricate, expanding with each new innovation. The ancient Roman aqueduct—built in Roman Paris most likely in the late 2nd century AD, or what was then called Lutetia—was made with major engineering and intricate architecture to bring water from the south into civilization. The water supply of the Aqueduct of Lutetia was of much better quality than that of the Seine. In 1613 the Medici Aqueduct was built, and as Paris grew, so did the construction of water systems and water supply networks. Although very necessary to continue to maintain and modernize these strong functional builds, Paris today still relies on three major aqueducts to continue what these works of art were built to accomplish: the Vanne, the Loing, and the Avre, which altogether consist of 470 km for the transport of water.
Testing and Water Quality
Although to ensure safe drinking quality, water in Paris is closely monitored by independent health authorities as well as the water supply company Eau de Paris, there are still some issues that arise when it pertains to how safe the water is. Eau de Paris claims to comply with and respect all regulatory quality limits, “which are among the strictest in the world.” There are double controls and safety measures both internally and externally throughout the waters’ entire course, from the sources to your tap. About half of Paris’ tap water comes from groundwater in Île-de-France—rainwater that infiltrates the earth—while the other half comes from the Seine and the Marne rivers. All of these go through screenings, activated carbon, ultraviolet refinement, and filtration processes to attain potability.
In the summer months of 2024, the Pesticides Action Network (PAN Europe) tested drinking water and published their analysis which reported the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) which are groups of both organic and human-made chemicals, present in water samples taken from 11 EU countries. This study was immensely mind-opening as it raised awareness for complex chemical contaminants often referred to as “forever chemicals” that go under the radar in water protection efforts in numerous countries' regulations.
The analysis of the water samples proved difficult to discern because of toxicity data being limited or incomplete due to the current knowledge available regarding the fast-moving toxicology profiles and more and more light being shed on the possible contaminants. Since the study, the European institutions have had the opportunity to set a precedent for the kinds of measures taken, which the public hopes are to enforce stricter laws around water potability, and put immediate bans on the kinds of contaminants found in the studies, including F-gas and PFAS pesticides.
One big contender in contributing to water pollution is air pollution. Particles in the air make a big impact on what is absorbed in various regions and their waters. The two are inextricably interconnected, and can shed light on what is arguably the most important issue of our time: the climate crisis. Unfortunately, the air pollutants in Paris are abundant. Whether from industrial pollutants or the perpetual friction of transportation systems' breaks on metal rails, water inevitably becomes affected, and the state of water offers insight into the state of the climate crisis.
Who and What's been in the Seine
These pieces of information speak to the "swimmability," or lack thereof, of the Seine during the Paris Olympics. Swimming in the Seine has been forbidden since 1923 because it was deemed "too toxic." Outlawed for over a century, yet with the thrill of the summer Olympic events, the city spent over €1 billion on the project to "clean it up." These efforts were meant to capture rainwater, keep wastewater out, and renovate sewage systems and water treatment plants. Tests for water quality were preformed which revealed E. coli and enterococci bacteria in June 2024. While in the following month, they showed improvement, the bacteria were still very much present.
The Seine is said to be so dirty for a number of reasons. Paris is an old city and often relies on systems put into place a long time ago. The city has a combined sewer system that allows wastewater and stormwater to flow through the same pipes, meaning when there is surplus rainwater, untreated wastewater ends up flowing into the river rather than the treatment plant.
Swimming in contaminated waters is simply not a good idea. Swimmers may have open cuts which the water can end up infecting, not to mention the amount of water that may be inadvertently swallowed which can lead to several issues, such as dangerous urinary tract infections. Stomach and intestinal issues can arise as well, which many people saw first-hand over the summer of 2024.
In recent years, many animals have been found traversing the water of the Seine. It has its usual animals, of course, like pigeons and rats, and at least 37 species of fish that live near the bottom of the Seine. More surprisingly though, throughout its history, the Seine has been home to a number of exotic animals as well.
Eleanor was a crocodile from the Nile who lived in Paris—for what veterinarians guessed was maybe one or two months—feeding on rats and sewage. She was found under the Rue du Pont-Neuf and was taken to the oldest zoo in Paris, La Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes. She has since died in May 2021 at 38 years of age.
In August 2022, a seal calf was spotted in the Seine. Other seals have been known to swim the river in the early 2000s but typically didn't stay for long, as it is not their native habitat.
One 40kg python snake was taken out of the Seine as well in 2012. The Préfecture de Police came to the conclusion the snake must have been a pet that was abandoned when it became unmanageable in a home.
Also in 2012, a piranha was found. Interestingly enough this piranha was identified as a "pacu," a freshwater piranha that is vegetarian. Similarly to the snake, this fish had once been a pet and was abandoned when it became too large for its owner to care for.
In 2022, an even larger animal was seen in the river. An 800kg beluga whale had become confused in its sonar navigation due to the immense noise pollution near the mouth of Le Havre on the northwestern coast of France. Although these whales are able to move between freshwater and saltwater, once the beluga had made its way to the Seine he was very weak and continued to deteriorate during his time in the river due to stress and illness. A large and immediate rescue operation was put into place but unfortunately, he died during the transfer. Veterinarians performed euthanasia since it was clear the animal was suffering.
These instances contribute to discussions on the ecological health of the river and therefore the water systems in France as a whole.
Hair & Skin
In terms of students' own experiences with Parisian water, opinions vary. “Paris' water is so harsh,” is all you will hear from those who are simply not used to it. "Harsh" or "hard" water is referring to the high mineral content within it. Someone born and raised in the city has become much better adapted to all its systems. When coming to Paris from different countries, it often goes unsaid the things your body isn’t accustomed to, hair and skin in particular.
In order to meet EU drinking standards, water is heavily treated, therefore creating a potentially irritating experience in caring for skin and hair. Different filtering protocols in water can affect the texture, health, and appearance of both your hair and your skin. Some minerals found in water, such as calcium and magnesium ions, end up leaving residue on hair and skin which can cause buildup and irritation, which can lead to greasy hair or itchy scalps.
The percentage of chlorine can further dehydrate hair: the perfect equation for split ends and frizziness to form, as well as cause hair to weaken, making it not so voluminous at all. Some of the most common issues stem from literally the root. When using hard water, it can cause the scalp to form dandruff or grease, or better yet both. Minerals end up stripping the scalp of its natural oils, causing dryness. When this occurs, it stunts hair growth, and the debris won't allow for the necessary circulation to grow healthy roots; and so the vicious cycle continues.
Although hair loss isn't a direct result of harsh water, it does end up weakening hair strands and causing more and more breakage. It is said that using a filtered water system in the shower and/or sink, using gentle cleansers, clarifying shampoos as well as hair masks can assist in the issues.
@francesurvivalguide Parisian hard water hair and skin damage #fyp #foryou #paristiktok #paristraveltips #hardwater #hairtok #anamericaninparis #parisianlife ♬ original sound - France Survival Guide
Hydration is incredibly important. In terms of drinking, using water filters is not a health necessity, but does aid in the taste of sometimes bothersome minerals. Yes, even though the things mentioned may seem incredibly off-putting, to say the least, it is still safe to ask “une carafe d’eau s’il vous plaît.” Paris health and water authorities are understanding of the need for clean and safe water; their mission statement has been in place since 2009.
Eau de Paris Mission Statement:
Choisir l'eau de Paris,
C'est choisir une eau naturelle et accessible,
saine et équilibrée,
Une eau que l'on respecte, que l'on partage
et qui rassemble
Choisir l'eau de Paris,
C'est choisir une eau dont on prend soin
et qui prend soin de nous,
Une eau qui incarne les valeurs du bien commun.
Choisir Eau de Paris,
C'est préserver et transmettre notre patrimoine,
Protéger et cultiver notre biodiversité,
et s'engager chaque jour en faveur de
l'environnement.
Choisir Eau de Paris,
C'est faire le choix de la proximité et de la solidarité,
de la qualité, de la transparence
et de la responsabilité,
Le choix d'une gestion durable qui met l'expertise
de ses 900 hommes et femmes au service
du vivant et de l'humain.
Translated mission statement:
Choosing Eau de Paris,
is to choose natural, affordable water,
healthy and balanced
Water that we respect, that we share
and that brings people together,
Choosing Eau de Paris,
means choosing water that we take care of
and that takes care of us,
Water that embodies the values of the common good.
Choosing Eau de Paris,
means preserving and passing on our heritage,
Protecting and cultivating our biodiversity,
and making a daily commitment to
for the environment.
Choosing Eau de Paris,
means choosing proximity and solidarity,
quality, transparency
and responsibility.
The choice of sustainable management that puts the expertise
of its 900 men and women to serve
of living beings and people.
