Agency Introduces Enhanced Website for Beach Notices and Shut Downs
The EPA declared today that it will be distributing $9.8 million to 38 states and other entities. All for the purpose of maintaining the health of swimmers at our nation’s beaches. Additionally, the agency has also created an improved website. Thereby providing data on water quality and pollution testing. That’s for more than 6,000 U.S. beaches.
This website will also enable the public to access beach water advisories and closings. I mean more promptly and easily.
BEACON
The BEACON website is capable of updating every two hours with new data from states. People can view mapped locations of beaches and water monitoring stations. In addition to beach water monitoring results for pollutants like bacteria and algae. On top of that, anyone can access reports that incorporate notifications and water quality monitoring data. This revised system also has improved map navigation and report display capabilities.
In the U.S., most beach advisories and closures are linked to water testing. All that reveals bacteria contamination.
For these bacteria can lead to illness and come from a wide range of sources. That’s such as sewage overflows, untreated stormwater, boating waste. Furthermore pet and also wild animal waste. Finally and septic system malfunctions.
Swimming Season
Throughout the swimming season, health and environmental protection departments at the state and local level. For they keep an eye on the quality of water at shorelines across the country. When levels of bacteria in the water go over the acceptable limit, they let the public know through either beach alerts or shutting down access to the beach.
The 12th year of EPA grants for beach water quality monitoring and public notification of potentially unsafe conditions for swimming is about to begin. Over $111 million has been made available for this purpose, and the number of monitored beaches has already risen to over 3,600 in 2010. To be considered for the grants, applications must be received within 60 days of the Federal Register notice, and the awards are expected to be granted later on this year.
Information
The EPA has improved their beach advisory and closing information, which can be accessed at http://watersgeo.epa.gov/BEACON2/.
For further details about the grants, please visit http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/beachgrants/index.cfm to learn more.
