Rome Mayor Plans Swimmable Tiber River Within Five Years

Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, has pledged that the River Tiber will be clean enough for swimming within five years, inspired by Paris's recent success in reopening the Seine for public bathing. A working group involving national and regional authorities, as well as scientists, has been established to plan the cleanup, with initial steps including new purification infrastructure and stricter monitoring of waste discharges. While parts of the Tiber meet water-quality standards on some days, heavy pollution—especially from the Aniene river—and the presence of hazardous bacteria like E. coli and leptospirosis pose significant health risks, leading to skepticism about the ambitious timeline. The project is expected to be less costly than Paris’s €1.4 billion Seine cleanup due to lower pollution levels, and some areas of the river might already be suitable for swimming on particular days. Rome has also revitalized stretches of the riverbank with new public spaces and greenery as part of broader efforts to rejuvenate the city ahead of upcoming events. However, experts and media remain cautious, noting the lengthy timescales typical of public works in Italy and the need for comprehensive regulatory and environmental measures to achieve full safety for swimmers.