Grading of beach water quality released

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 30) 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), 20 as Fair (Grade 2), five as Poor (Grade 3) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:

Chung Hom Kok Beach Shek O Beach
Discovery Bay South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Repulse Bay Beach  

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Butterfly Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Kiu Tsui Beach
Casam Beach Lido Beach
Castle Peak Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach Stanley Main Beach
Golden Beach Trio Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Approach Beach Ting Kau Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach  

 
Grade 4 beach is:

Silverstrand Beach  

     "Compared with the grading released last week, Silverstrand Beach has been changed from Grade 2 to Grade 4. The deterioration of water quality at Silverstrand Beach was largely due to the recent unsteady weather and frequent heavy rain," an EPD spokesman said.

    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.

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