Grading of beach water quality released

image_pdfimage_print

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 17) 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*).   
   
     Seventeen beaches were rated as good (grade 1), 20 as fair (grade 2) and two as poor (grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:       

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

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

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

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach

 
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Kiu Tsui Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been upgraded from grade 2 to grade 1; Castle Peak Beach from grade 3 to grade 2. Trio Beach has been changed from grade 1 to grade 2; Anglers' 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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.