Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 12) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).     
   
     Thirteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 19 as Fair (Grade 2) and seven as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

Hung Shing Yeh Beach* St Stephen's Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Stanley Main Beach*
Lower Cheung Sha Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Middle Bay Beach Trio Beach**
Repulse Bay Beach* Turtle Cove Beach
Shek O Beach* Upper Cheung Sha Beach
South Bay Beach  

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Big Wave Bay Beach** Hap Mun Bay Beach*
Butterfly Beach* Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria New Beach** Kiu Tsui Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Kwun Yam Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* Lido Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach Pui O Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach* Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach* Silverstrand Beach**
Discovery Bay  

 

Grade 3 beaches are:  
Anglers' Beach Golden Beach*
Approach Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Casam Beach* Ting Kau Beach**
Castle Peak Beach**  

 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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.
      
     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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
 
Note 1: The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced on June 10 that six gazetted beaches (marked with two asterisks above) will reopen on June 13. The 15 gazetted beaches (marked with a single asterisk above) have reopened since May 23. Meanwhile, the other beaches will remain temporarily closed until further notice.
 
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.