NEW YORK- As New Yorkers prepare for Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer, a new round of federal funding is set to help keep beachgoers safe in the water this season.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that New York will receive $315,000 in BEACH Act grant funding to monitor water quality at public beaches and alert swimmers when bacteria levels rise to unsafe levels.
State officials will use the money to test water conditions along coastal beaches and issue advisories or closures when necessary, helping families make informed decisions before heading to the shore.
“This weekend is the unofficial start of the summer beach season for New York, and EPA’s BEACH grant funding will keep swimmers safe,” EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci said in a statement.
The funding comes through the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, which supports water testing and public notification programs in states with coastal recreational waters.
Grant amounts are determined by factors including shoreline miles, beach season length, and population in coastal counties. States receiving funding must also meet federal standards for water quality monitoring and public notification systems.
Residents are encouraged to check local beach advisories before swimming throughout the summer season.
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