EPA awards $319K grant to Puerto Rico for beach water quality monitoring

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the allocation of $319,000 in grant funding to support water quality monitoring at Puerto Rico's beaches. This initiative aims to safeguard public health by ensuring clean and safe coastal waters for beachgoers.

"This funding helps keep beaches and coastal waters clean so that people can have fun, relax and enjoy all the beauty that Puerto Rico coastlines have to offer," stated Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. "EPA funding is vital for successful beach monitoring and notification programs."

The grants are part of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, which enables eligible state, tribal, and territorial applicants to monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches. When bacteria levels exceed safe limits for swimming, these agencies issue advisories or close affected beaches.

Since 2001, the EPA has provided nearly $230 million in BEACH Act grants aimed at testing beach waters for harmful bacteria, identifying pollution sources, and notifying the public about safety concerns. The 2024 grant allocations were determined based on three factors: the length of the beach season, shoreline mileage, and populations of coastal counties.

To qualify for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have recreational waters adjacent to public beaches or similar access points. They must also maintain a water quality standards program with EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality standards for coastal waters. Additionally, they need to meet 11 performance criteria related to monitoring, assessment, and notification components of their beach programs.

For more information on BEACH Act grants or specific advisory information at particular beaches within relevant states or territories, visit respective local websites or follow EPA Region 2 on social media platforms such as XExit EPA’s website or FacebookExit EPA’s website page.