Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 20) 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).     

     Twenty-seven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), eight as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

Big Wave Bay Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach Pui O Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Repulse Bay Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach Silverstrand Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach* South Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach* St Stephen's Beach
Discovery Bay Stanley Main Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach* Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach* Tong Fuk Beach
Kadoorie Beach Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach  

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Butterfly Beach* Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Golden Beach* Ting Kau Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Approach 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. Butterfly Beach, Cafeteria New Beach, Golden Beach, Shek O Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Hoi Mei 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, 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.
 
     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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
 
Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 15 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from May 5.
 
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.