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Beaches

  • 2025 EPA Beach Grants

    The EPA will allocate up to $9.7 million to eligible Tribes, states and territories on ocean and Great Lakes coasts to monitor water quality and notify the public when it’s not safe to swim.

    Learn more about beach grants
  • Find Information about a Particular U.S. Beach

    Find out about the quality of the water at beaches and health risks associated with swimming in polluted water.

    Learn about your beach
  • Evaluating Beach Water Quality

    Beach managers can download the EPA’s free Sanitary Survey App for Marine and Fresh Waters.

    Discover the app

Beaches provide recreational opportunities like swimming, surfing, and kayaking for millions of people and unique habitat for plants and animals. However, pollution at the beach can result in swimmers getting sick or temporary beach closures that can harm the local economy. Learn about water pollution at beaches, advisories at specific beaches, how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency protects beach water quality, and how you can help.

 
  • About a Specific Beach

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    Find swimming advisories and monitoring reports.

    Explore maps and reports
  • Human Health

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    Learn how to avoid getting sick at the beach.

    Learn about water pollution
  • Beach Health

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    Learn what harms beach health.

    Learn about beach pollution
  • The EPA's Role

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    Learn how the EPA protects beaches.

    Discover what EPA does
  • Take Action

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    Discover ways you can help protect beaches.

    Help protect beaches
  • Beach Management Resources

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    View tools and resources for beach monitoring and notification programs.

    Find technical resources
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 23, 2025
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