Polluted waters of Rio de Janeiro raise concerns ahead of 2016 Olympics

Talking Points Memo : Much like the severe air pollution that threatened China’s bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro’s water pollution is causing concern a year before the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Rio’s waterways are extremely contaminated because only half the city’s wastewater gets treated. That means hundreds of millions of liters of raw sewage get dumped into the bay every day. In July the Associated Press tested the water and found levels of viruses associated with human sewage some 1.7 million times above what’s allowed in the US. Athletes competing in pre-Olympic boating events in August fell ill, and at least one, Erik Heil, was sent to the hospital for treatment after acquiring a flesh-eating bacteria. As a condition of its hosting the Olympics, Rio had promised to improve its sewage sanitation methods and clean up its water. However, Brazilian officials now say that probably won’t be possible.