This grant will fund the recipient's efforts to collect water samples from designated recreational beaches in massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) received a $258,000 Project Grant awarded on January 1, 2026, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 under the Beach Monitoring and Notification Program Implementation Grants (CFDA 66.472). This award funds MDPH's continuation of its statewide coastal beach monitoring, assessment, and notification program through May 1, 2027. The grant supports bacteriological water quality monitoring at approximately 600 sampling locations across over 500 Massachusetts marine beaches, with activities including sample collection and analysis for indicator bacteria, maintenance and operation of a public notification system, improvement of laboratory capabilities and web-based data systems, and annual reporting to EPA in EPA-specified formats.

The primary deliverables include an annual program report summarizing monitoring data and activities, analysis and reporting of all beach water samples collected, and maintenance of a public-facing program website. MDPH will notify the public when water quality standards are exceeded to protect human health and enable residents and visitors to make informed beach safety decisions. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement. The program serves all individuals who recreate in Massachusetts marine coastal waters and directly supports the federal Beach Act objectives of reducing swimmer illness and disease transmission through timely public notification of unsafe water conditions.

The water samples will be tested for bacteriological water quality. The public will be notified when the waters exceed the applicable water quality standards and when they are safe for swimming. These public notification efforts will protect human health by reducing the risk to the bathing public of contracting diseases from contaminated water. Activities:massachusetts department of public health (MA DPH) will monitor designated recreational beaches in massachusetts for bacteriological water quality, maintain beaches website, and notify the public when the waters exceed the applicable water quality standards. The project continues the work of MA DPH to implement its statewide coastal beach monitoring, assessment, and notification program under the federal beach act. Activities include: monitoring and analysis of indicator bacteria at approximately 600 sampling locations at over 500 marine beaches; maintaining and operating a public notification system; improving laboratory capability and web-based data systems, including GIS coverage; and annually reporting to EPA the results of monitoring and notification actions electronically and in an EPA-specified format.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:deliverables include an annual report summarizing program activities and data, analysis and reporting of all beach water samples, and maintenance of program website. Reporting will be consistent with EPA and beach program guidance and schedules on water sampling and public notification efforts. The applicant will also submit beach monitoring data to EPA in an EPA-specified format. Intended beneficiaries include all who recreate in massachusetts marine coastal waters.