Grading of beach water quality released

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 10) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).
   
     Sixteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are: 
   

Deep Water Bay Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Discovery Bay Shek O Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach South Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach St Stephen's Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Stanley Main Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach Trio Beach
Pui O Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:
 

Anglers' Beach Golden Beach
Approach Beach Kadoorie Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Kiu Tsui Beach
Butterfly Beach Lido Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Middle Bay Beach
Casam Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Silverstrand Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Ting Kau Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach  

 
Grade 3 beaches are:
 

Castle Peak Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach

 
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Chung Hom Kok Beach and Kiu Tsui Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Castle Peak Beach and Hoi Mei Wan Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.  
      
     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

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