The purpose of this grant agreement is to fund the applicant's efforts to collect water samples from designated recreational beaches in connecticut

Environmental Protection Agency Region 1 awarded the Connecticut Department of Public Health $209,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Beach Monitoring and Notification Program Implementation Grants (CFDA 66.472) to monitor bacteriological water quality at designated recreational beaches throughout Connecticut and notify the public when waters exceed applicable standards.

CT DPH will conduct monitoring and analysis of indicator bacteria at coastal beaches, maintain and operate a public notification system, improve laboratory capability and web-based data systems including GIS coverage, provide technical assistance to communities to assess pollution sources at specific beaches, and annually report results to EPA in an EPA-specified format. The work implements Connecticut's statewide coastal beach monitoring, assessment, and notification program under the Federal Beach Act. Deliverables include water sampling and public notification reporting consistent with EPA and Beach Program guidance and schedules, along with submission of beach monitoring data to EPA in EPA-specified format. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.

Period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through May 31, 2027. Work is performed in Connecticut. The program benefits all residents and tourists visiting Connecticut's marine beaches by reducing the risk of contracting waterborne diseases from contaminated water.

The water samples will be tested for bacteriological water quality and 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:connecticut department of public health (CT DPH) will monitor designated recreational beaches in connecticut for bacteriological water quality and notify the public when the waters exceed the applicable water quality standards. The project continues the work of the CT 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 coastal beaches; maintaining and operating a public notification system; improving laboratory capability and web-based data systems, including GIS coverage; providing technical assistance to communities to assess pollution sources at specific beaches; 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 reporting 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. Beneficiaries of the program include all residents and tourists that visit the marine beaches in connecticut.