PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island has been awarded a $200,000 Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coast Health Act grant to support beach water quality monitoring and public notification efforts, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., announced Thursday.
The federal funds are overseen by the Environmental Protection agency.
Reed is expected to join officials Friday at Second Beach in Middletown to conduct water quality tests with local health officials and celebrate the grant.
“Clean, safe beaches are essential to our economy and public health, and water quality monitoring is crucial to keeping beaches clean and accessible. I helped support, pass and fund the BEACH Act because it helps local communities team up to protect swimmers, our waters, and our tourism and recreation industries,” Reed said. “These federal funds will help Rhode Island actively monitor our water quality to ensure it is safe and clean, and keep the public informed.”
Reed also said the BEACH Act grant funding has provided the Ocean State more than $2.2 million to date.
