Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 24) 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*).   
        
     Nineteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and five as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:        

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Shek O Beach
Discovery Bay South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Stanley Main Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Trio Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Pui O Beach  

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Approach Beach Golden Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Lido Beach
Casam Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Castle Peak Beach Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Ting Kau Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach  

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Butterfly Beach  

 
*Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Chung Hom Kok Beach, Trio Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Deep Water Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Big Wave Bay Beach, Butterfly Beach and Silver Mine Bay 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.