Grading of beach water quality released - Government World Magazine

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 25) 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).

Fifteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and three as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Chung Hom Kok Beach	Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	South Bay Beach
Discovery Bay	St Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Repulse Bay Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Big Wave Bay Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Butterfly Beach	Kwun Yam Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Lido Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Casam Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Golden Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach

Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Approach 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: In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced on July 13 that all beaches would be temporarily closed from July 15 until further notice.

Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.