Is the Big Sioux dirtier than the Seine in Paris?

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The Paris Olympics are approaching and the French government is working hard to clean the long-polluted Seine River and make it safe for swimming events. 

With Paris’ ramped up efforts to improve the water quality of the Seine and the recent 32 million gallons of wastewater discharged into the Big Sioux River after the floods, does that make the Big Sioux dirtier than the Seine?

Travis Entenman, the managing director for Friends of the Big Sioux River, said the organization tests the waters for E. coli, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and nitrates. As of 2024, 75% of the Big Sioux River is impaired for both TSS, which includes top soil or river bank erosion and E. coli. 

“We have a really big issue with the E. coli, that is a bacteria that primarily comes from livestock manure, either on farm fields or livestock in the ...