EPA Provides $254,000 to Maine to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers
BOSTON - (May 21, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $254,000 in grant funding that Maine will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.
"New England's beaches are central to the region's coastal way of life, sustaining communities and driving local economies," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "This funding helps protect human health by ensuring beaches are regularly monitored so Americans can enjoy clean, safe water for swimming and recreation."
This funding is authorized by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and advances EPA's goals of enhancing cooperative federalism and ensuring that every American has access to clean and safe water, two key pillars of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative.
Learn more about BEACH Act grants.
Before heading to the beach, check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information.
Background
To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have coastal or Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. They must also have a water quality standards program and EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality standards for coastal waters. Additionally, eligible entities must meet 11 performance criteria for implementing the monitoring, assessment, and notification components of their beach program. Each grantee receives an amount based on the length of the beach season, the number of miles of shoreline and the populations of coastal counties.