Rhode Island is set to receive $228,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to aid in water quality monitoring at its beaches. This financial support for the Rhode Island Department of Health is a component of a countrywide initiative aimed at safeguarding public health, according to an Aug. 11 news release.
"With so many beach closures across New England this summer, people want to know 'where can I go swimming in clean water?' Today's grant will advance environmental justice in communities vulnerable to and overburdened by water quality impacts by supporting critical monitoring and notification programs," EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash said in the release. "We will continue to work closely with our state, municipal and local partners to deliver information that people need to make good decisions about their health. The results of monitoring can also help us enforce environmental laws and make investments, so beach closures become a thing of the past."
This financial support constitutes a portion of the $10.6 million in grants, initially declared in May, which aim to aid coastal and Great Lakes communities. The funding will be channeled into initiatives that bolster water quality monitoring and public notification systems for beaches, the release said.
This grant underpins endeavors to ensure individuals are well-informed about the safety of coastal waters, enabling them to partake in swimming and recreation activities without concern, according to the release.
Pursuant to the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, EPA grants are allocated to eligible state, Tribal and territorial applicants, along with their local government partners, to facilitate water quality monitoring at coastal and Great Lakes beaches, the release said. When bacterial levels exceed safe swimming thresholds, these entities or their local counterparts notify the public and post alerts or beach closures.
Since 2001, the EPA disbursed close to $216 million in BEACH Act grants, with Rhode Island receiving nearly $4.7 million and more than $25 million benefiting New England states. These grants aid in testing beach waters for illness-inducing bacteria, supporting public notification efforts and identifying potential issues, thereby playing a pivotal role in safeguarding beachgoers' health nationwide, the release reported.
The EPA's BEACH Act grant allotment for 2023 will be apportioned to several New England states, provided they meet the necessary eligibility criteria, the release said. EPA Region 1 will distribute the following sums: Rhode Island, $228,000, New Hampshire, $214,000; Maine, $272,000; Massachusetts, $275,000; and Connecticut, $236,000.
