Mid-Atlantic Beach Water Monitoring Boosted by Federal Grants
Nearly $1 million in federal funding will help Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia test coastal waters and issue public safety alerts.
Four Mid-Atlantic states will receive a combined $944,000 in federal grant funding to track coastal water quality and alert the public when bacteria levels pose a risk to swimmers.
The funding, distributed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will support ongoing environmental monitoring programs in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Local officials use these resources to identify contamination and issue health advisories or beach closures.
Under the distribution plan, Virginia will receive the largest share at $263,000, followed by Maryland at $258,000. Pennsylvania is slated to receive $214,000, while Delaware will receive $209,000.
The grants are authorized under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act. Funding allocations are determined by specific local criteria, including the total miles of shoreline, the population density of coastal counties and the overall length of the regional beach season.
To qualify for the federal program, states must maintain EPA-approved water quality standards for their coastal or Great Lakes recreational waters. Recipients are also required to meet 11 distinct performance benchmarks regarding how they monitor water, assess data and notify the public of potential hazards.
Environmental officials recommend that compliance data and local beach advisories be reviewed online before visiting public swimming areas.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is Assistant Editor of EPOnline.com.
