There’s a continued warning for anyone wanting to cool down in the summer heat to avoid the Rivers Arve and parts of the Rhône River in Geneva after an incident at a wastewater treatment plant in neighbouring France.
Authorities say that sewage was released from the Ocybèle plant in Gaillard in Haute Savoie last week, which led to a total shutdown of the purification capacity.
Wastewater then flowed into the Arve resulting in a high concentration of faecal E. coli bacteria in the river at La Jonction where the Rhône and Arve rivers meet.
Any water-bound activities, such as swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and rafting, are being advised against. Further tests will be carried out in the coming days to determine when it’s safe to go in the river again.
The main symptoms of ingesting water contaminated with E. coli are abdominal cramps, nausea and diarrhoea. Anyone who has any of these symptoms after being in the river is advised to consult a doctor.
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