Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 18) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
        
     Twenty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 11 as Fair (Grade 2) and seven as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:                                 

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach                                                           Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach                                                                        Silverstrand Beach
Discovery Bay                                                                South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach St Stephen's 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

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Big Wave Bay Beach                                                           Golden Beach
Butterfly Beach Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria New Beach                                                                                                                                               Pui O Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Shek O Beach
Castle Peak Beach Stanley Main Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach  

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach Lido Beach
Approach Beach                                                           Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Casam Beach Ting Kau Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach  

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Big Wave Bay Beach, Golden Beach, Pui O Beach and Shek O Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Approach Beach, Casam Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan 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.