Water quality along the state's beaches will get an assist this year in the form of a $324,000 grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Hawai'i is among 35 coastal and Great Lakes states and territories slated to share $10 million for monitoring of beach water quality and for public notification programs, the EPA announced yesterday.

Such monitoring programs help local authorities take measures to reduce water pollution and issue advisories and closure notices when bacteria levels become too high, said Dean Higuchi, press officer for the EPA Pacific Division.

The grant amounts for various states and territories were based on a number of factors, including the length of the beach season, miles of beaches and number of beachgoers, Higuchi said.

To receive the money, Higuchi said, the state still needs to submit an application and a monitoring work plan that meets the EPA's performance guidelines.

But he said the state has met the requirements and received such grants in the past.

"The money will be used to further the Department of Health's beach monitoring program, which has been vital in informing the public about the recent brown water incidences after the heavy rainwater runoff," he said.

"Basically, the grant will enhance and continue the program."

The Hawai'i grant is the seventh-largest of the 35 awarded. Florida and California will receive $535,000 and $522,000, respectively, followed by Texas with $385,000, New York with $353,000, Puerto Rico with $329,000 and Louisiana with $325,000.

The smallest grant, $150,000, would go to Alaska, which has a short beach season and relatively small number of beachgoers.