Grading of beach water quality released

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 29) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
        
     Nineteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:       

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

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Approach Beach Golden Beach
Butterfly Beach Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Ting Kau Beach
Discovery Bay  

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Casam Beach Lido Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Cafeteria New Beach, Golden Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Casam Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Lido 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 websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

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