Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 21) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
 
     Eighteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 20 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Cafeteria Old Beach Pui O Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* Repulse Bay Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach Silverstrand Beach*
Discovery Bay South Bay Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach* St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach* Stanley Main Beach*
Kiu Tsui Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Trio Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach* Golden Beach*
Approach Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach* Kadoorie Beach*
Butterfly Beach* Lido Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Casam Beach* Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach* Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach* Turtle Cove Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* Ting Kau Beach*

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Stanley Main Beach and Trio Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Anglers' Beach, Approach Beach, Casam Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Lido Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Shek O Beach, Tai Po Lung Mei Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
 
     "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 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from May 1.
 
Note 2: The non-gazetted beach is Discovery Bay which has no lifeguard service.