State gets $251,000 to monitor water quality of beaches

BOSTON n Massachusetts received a $251,930 federal grant Monday to help ensure the water quality at its ocean beaches is monitored and the public notified promptly against swimming if necessary.With summer beach season in full swing, environmental officials gathered in Provincetown to announce the financial support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England office to the state Department of Public Health (DPH).The DPH, responsible for overseeing the monitoring of more than 500 beaches on a regular basis throughout the summer, was also expected to release its annual report on the status of saltwater beaches in Massachusetts. In 2007, 135 of those monitored beaches were closed for a total of 795 days, a significant decrease from the 154 beaches closed for 1,571 days in 2006.The funding announced Monday was made possible through the federal Beach Act of 2000, which requires coastal states to monitor beaches and notify the public about water quality. Including Monday’s grant, Massachusetts since 2001 has received $1,599,525 to implement its monitoring and notification program.According to Robert Varney, the EPA regional administrator, since Memorial Day, 115 of Massachusetts’ saltwater beaches have experienced closures, some multiple times.”This grant is key for helping the public know when it is safe to swim at the beach”, said Varney, adding that the EPA also intends to improve beachfront water quality by eliminating pollution.The EPA’s Clean New England Beaches Initiative was designed to help states and local beach managers find and eliminate uncontrolled storm water runoff and untreated sewage that contains bacteria, viruses and protozoa; some of which can cause minor illnesses such as gastroenteritis or more serious diseases such as hepatitis. Runoff can be contaminated through pet waste, wildlife, road surface oils, and illegal sewer connections. Untreated sewage can seep from leaking sewer pipes, failing septic systems, boats and combined sewer overflows, all resulting in beach closures.”The threat of waterborne illness is a significant public health concern,” said DPH Associate Commissioner Suzanne Condon.For more information about specific Massachusetts beaches, go online to http://mass.digitalhealthdepartment.com/public_21/index.cfm