As dozens of beaches in Massachusetts persistently close due to high levels of bacteria, the federal government is stepping in to help.
On Friday, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it is giving the Massachusetts Department of Public Health $275,000 to keep tabs on water quality at the state's beaches.
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The EPA Beach Grant was announced at Tenean Beach in Dorchester.
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"With so many beach closures across New England this summer, people want to know 'where can I go swimming in clean water?'" EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash said in a statement. "Today’s grant will advance environmental justice in communities vulnerable to and overburdened by water quality impacts by supporting critical monitoring and notification programs."
Other New England states received Beach Grants as well: Connecticut ($236,000), Maine ($272,000), New Hampshire ($214,000) and Rhode Island ($228,000), the agency said.
Bacterial exceedance has closed dozens of freshwater and marine beaches across the state — there were 54 beaches closed to swimming as of Friday morning. The bacteria is generally the result of recent storms, that led to sewage overflows and pollution runoff.
