EPA Provides $315K to New York to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers

NEW YORK - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $315,000 in grant funding that New York will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe. 

"This weekend is the unofficial start of the summer beach season for New York, and EPA's BEACH grant funding will keep swimmers safe," said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. "Working through our state partners, these funds support keeping a close eye on water conditions, sharing clear information with the public, and taking action to address problems so families can enjoy the water with confidence all season long."

This funding is authorized by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and advances EPA's goals of enhancing cooperative federalism and ensuring that every American has access to clean and safe water, two key pillars of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative. 

Learn more about BEACH Act grants. 

Before heading to the beach, check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information. 

Background

To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have coastal or Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. They must also have a water quality standards program and EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality standards for coastal waters. Additionally, eligible entities must meet 11 performance criteria for implementing the monitoring, assessment, and notification components of their beach program. Each grantee receives an amount based on the length of the beach season, the number of miles of shoreline and the populations of coastal counties. 

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