With Summer Approaching, Reed Delivers $210K to Monitor RI Beach Water Quality, Protect Swimmers

PROVIDENCE, RI - As more swimmers get ready to hit the beach this summer, experts and volunteers from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) are fanning out to collect and study water samples at some of the Ocean State's most popular beaches.

They're on the lookout for hidden dangers beneath the waves of recreational waters: high levels of enterococcus, a type of bacteria found in the guts of all warm-blooded animals, or other pollutants, and testing the water frequently is the best way to ensure it is safe for swimmers.

This year, U.S. Senator Jack Reed led efforts to deliver $210,000 in federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act grant funding for Rhode Island. Federal BEACH grants help coastal states, including those located along the shores of the Great Lakes, monitor beach water quality nationwide.

"Safe, clean beaches are important to Rhode Islanders and our communities. A day at the beach to be safe, fun, and healthy. These BEACH grants help protect public health, economic health, and the health of our waterways. It keeps people updated when temporary beach closures are warranted and provides policymakers with the data needed to ensure sound management," said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, which oversees federal BEACH Act funding.

Earlier this year, Senator Reed rescued BEACH grants from the Trump Administration's budget chopping block. Instead of allowing the Trump Administration to eliminate the program, Reed led the successful effort to deliver $9.75 million in BEACH grant funds nationwide in 2026.

"Forget sharks. The greatest risk to swimmers' health is tiny, microscopic bacteria. That is why it is so important to be proactive and ensure people have the most up to date information about beach water quality. The Trump Administration's short-sighted effort to eliminate funding for beach water testing would only put children, families, and vulnerable Americans at risk. I am pleased to have worked on a bipartisan basis to secure this funding for Rhode Island and other states," said Senator Reed.

The federal funds are administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which distributes the funds to states and territories.

In Rhode Island, federal BEACH grants support beach water-quality collection, testing, and monitoring and public notification efforts if bacteria levels become unsafe.

Swimming in contaminated waters can cause unpleasant gastrointestinal illnesses, skin rashes, sore throat, ear or eye infection, or fever.

Beyond the public health warning, closed beaches can offer an economic warnings to policy makers: address the environmental issues or deal with the outflow of tourism and recreational dollars.

Rhode Island experienced multiple beach closures last summer, with more than 20 facilities temporarily shutting down at various points from June to August due to bacteria concerns, with some facilities experiencing multiple closure periods.

The number of beach advisories/closures in a given year varies, in part due to weather conditions. Last year, Rhode Island beaches experienced a total of 123 closure days, according to RIDOH data. Heavy rains can increase the chance for bacteria due to sewage overflows that drain into the storm water system and eventually end up in recreational waters.

Beachgoers can check current conditions at swimming locations across the state by visiting: health.ri.gov/beaches or by calling RIDOH's beach telephone line: (401) 222-2751.

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