The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $291,000 Project Grant under the Beach Monitoring and Notification Program Implementation Grants (CFDA 66.472) to the Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Health Office of Epidemiology Division. The grant funding supports Virginia's beach advisory program, with the primary goal of reducing the risk of waterborne illness for primary contact recreational swimmers in the state's coastal waters.
The key activities to be performed under this grant include:
- Weekly water quality sampling and monitoring at 54 coastal sites
- Analysis of sampling results and communication of findings to local health officials
- Issuance of beach advisories and closures if critical water quality thresholds are exceeded
- Sharing water quality data with the public via an official website and with the EPA
The anticipated outcomes include the generation and dissemination of weekly water quality data to support safe recreational practices, engagement with the local community about recreation risks, and the creation of a water quality summary report for the EPA. The grant period runs from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025.
Generated 3/4/25, 4:13 AM