A video showing a Paris city sanitation worker hosing debris directly into the Canal Saint-Martin has sparked widespread backlash on social media. Filmed by a student and posted to their Instagram account, the footage captures waste being blasted into the water—just hours after residents had been swimming there amid a severe heatwave.
Swimming Permitted Amid Heat Emergency
French authorities temporarily authorized swimming in the canal from the previous Wednesday through July 4 as part of emergency measures to cope with extreme summer temperatures gripping the country. The Canal Saint-Martin, normally not designated for bathing, became an informal cooling spot for Parisians during the heatwave.
City Condemns Worker’s Actions
The Paris City Hall quickly responded, clarifying that the employee did not follow official cleaning protocols. According to municipal officials quoted in Le Figaro, standard procedure requires waste to be swept toward sidewalks for collection—not directed into waterways. The incident was described as inconsistent with routine public space waste management practices.
Mayor Calls It an Isolated Incident
Newly elected Mayor of Paris Emmanuel Grégoire addressed the issue publicly, labeling the act a ‘one-off’ and affirming it does not reflect established policy. ‘This is not right—and it must not happen,’ he stated, while also expressing solidarity with the city’s sanitation workers. He confirmed that appropriate steps will be taken to investigate and address the incident.