With Rio de Janeiro Olympics set to begin, Guanabara Bay water contaminated with sewage

A worker removes trash from Botafogo beach next to the Sugarloaf Mountain and the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro. Just days ahead of the Olympic Games the waterways of Rio are as filthy as ever, contaminated with human sewage teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria, according to a 16-month-long study commissioned by the Associated Press.

(Leo Correa / Associated Press)

Aug. 1, 2016 8:24 AM PT

Brazil’s national flag decorates the boat used to collect water samples from Guanabara Bay for an ongoing water quality study in Rio de Janeiro.

(Silvia Izquierdo / Associated Press)

A man washes himself in the polluted waters of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro.

(Felipe Dana / Associated Press)

Boats sit on the polluted shore of Guanabara Bay in the Sao Goncalo suburb across the bay from Rio de Janeiro.

(Felipe Dana / Associated Press)

Cars drive above sewage flowing from the suburb of Sao Goncalo into Guanabara Bay, across the bay from Rio de Janeiro.

(Felipe Dana / Associated Press)

Houses stand next to the heavily polluted shore of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro. Just days ahead of the Olympic Games the waterways of Rio are contaminated with sewage.

(Felipe Dana / Associated Press)

Australian sailors head out for a training session on Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

(William West / AFP/Getty Images)

View of Marina Da Gloria and the Sugarloaf Mountain, the center stage for the Olympic Games 2016 sailing competitions, at the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janiero.

(Sebastian Kahnert / EPA)