EPA Provides $319K to Puerto Rico to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers

NEW YORK - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $319,000 in grant funding that Puerto Rico will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.  

"People flock to Puerto Rico beautiful beaches year-round, and EPA's BEACH grant funding will help keep swimmers safe," said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. "Working through our Puerto Rico 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 every visit to the water."

"Puerto Rico's beaches are one of our greatest natural treasures and a key driver of our tourism economy," said Governor Jenniffer González-Colón. "This BEACH Act funding from the EPA, under the leadership of President Trump's Administration, will strengthen our ability to monitor water quality, protect public health, and ensure that residents and visitors can continue to safely enjoy our coastlines. We thank the EPA for its continued partnership and commitment to safeguarding our environment and communities."

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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