Giant basin to clean Seine for Paris Olympics 

A colossal underground reservoir, dug next to Austerlitz station at a cost of $1.5bn, aims to reduce the risk of pollution in the Seine and make the river suitable for bathing again 

Stormwater spillway pipes
New swimming areas

PARIS
Paris 
FRANCE 
Olympic swimming events
1km 0.6 miles
Seine
Eiffel Tower
Notre- Dame
Bras Marie
Bras de Grenelle
Bercy
Louvre Museum
Austerlitz basin


Interceptor tunnel
Recovery well
Seine
Austerlitz Station
Austerlitz basin
100m 328ft

During Olympics, river water will be tested every day to check safety levels

AUSTERLITZ BASIN
1 Water inlet
Captures overflow from sewage system during heavy  downpours
 
2 Outlet Releases stored water into treatment plant

1 2
30m
50m

Capacity: 46,000m


Sources: City of Paris, Sade, Artelia, Reuters
Picture: Google Earth
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