The majority of funds go to groups of six states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The funds will be used to monitor water quality on coastal and Great Lakes beaches, and “receiver is needed to notify the public when levels of disease-causing bacteria are at high levels.
“Millions of Americans travel to the beach to relax and play underwater this summer. They create lifelong memories and benefit the local economy.”
“With $9.7 million from the EPA, states and local governments can ensure our beaches are open for business and allow beach fans to swim and splash without fear of getting sick.”
The funds are paid to eight EPA regions, each of which consists of multiple states.
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The funds allocated to Region 4 are “expected to help ensure safe beaches along the 2,035-mile coastal area of the southeast and protect public health while promoting tourism and economic development,” said Kevin Mcomber, Regional Manager of the EPA.
According to the EPA, the $9.7 million funding advances two goals: cooperative federalism and the availability of safe and clean water for American citizens.
“In his first term, President Trump has promoted conservation, reduced toxic emissions in the air and promoted economic growth for families across the country, while also cleaning dangerous areas. We remain committed to these priorities in this administration,” Zeldin said.
Sea bacteria on the beach
Over the past few years, there have been several instances of beaches being closed throughout the United States due to concerns about the presence of bacteria.
Swimming in unsafe waters can cause respiratory problems such as sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, ear pain, fever, skin rash, abdominal pain, and itching.
The state’s Department of Public Health has attributed the presence of bacteria to heavy rain, allowing storms to flush out germs or excess nutrients on land into water, allowing small populations of these microorganisms to “proliferate rapidly to unsafe levels.”
“Eighty percent of beaches and sampling sites tested last year (483 of 604) produced at least one high bacterial outcome exceeding the state’s health standards, indicating the importance of regular water quality monitoring on beaches to protect public health and safe recreation,” he said.
The report lists the top 10 beaches with the highest presence of bacteria. The launch of Koroar Landing’s Workmostream and Parkview Kayak in Kahalu Beach, Hawaii, and Florida has won top three spots, with samples from these sites having a bacterial rate of over 90%.
The bacteria rates for the four more beaches on the list were above 50%.
For each of these beaches, “The Surfrider Foundation chapter consistently measures high bacterial levels above state health standards for recreational water,” the report states.
“Though these beach bacteria hotspots represent a variety of recreational water and access points that are important to the community, water quality conditions can put public health at risk.”
