For centuries, the Tiber was a popular bathing spot for locals and tourists alike. Since the 1960s, however, the water is so polluted that taking a dip in the Roman river is completely banned, punishable by hundreds of euros worth of fines.
But now Rome’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri wants the good old days back. Not by bringing back gladiators and the empire, but by making the Tiber swimmable again by 2030. Having first announced his plan back in July, Gualtieri more recently described the move as ‘entirely achievable’ at a press conference in Japan, but water safety experts, and everyday Roman citizens, are unsure.
According to Gualtieri, pollution levels in the Tiber are lower than that of the Seine before it was cleaned up. Paris’ river opened up for bathing after €1.4 billion worth of works made it safe for the first time in more than a century, and Gualtieri is certain he can sort the Roman equivalent for cheaper.
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However, there’s a long way to go before Rome can share Paris’ joy. Last September the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research found that the Tiber has carried more plastic into the sea than any other river in the country, and that it has an unsafe level of faecal bacteria. Hardly what you’d want a mouthful of when you’re just trying to have a relaxing swim, is it?
Speaking to the local news organisation Roma Today, the president of the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine Alessandro Miani explained that ‘the presence of faecal bacteria such as Escherichia coli can trigger gastrointestinal infections in humans, with symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting’. E. coli can also cause irritation to the skin and eyes if you are exposed to it for too long. Overall, he concluded that ‘the health risks linked to pollution in the Tiber and in inland waters are extremely high’.
Many remain sceptical that the 2030 deadline will be met, but Gualtieri remains confident that cleaning up the water is doable, and fast. His team have already started making moves; the police have begun ‘a screening’ of everything that is dumped into the river, ‘including those outside the Roma Capital area, which are among the main causes of the current lack of bathing safety’. After that, a timeline can be drawn up, and a proper step-by-step plan.
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