Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 10) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
 
     Twenty-one beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 12 as Fair (Grade 2) and seven as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:

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

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Butterfly Beach* Kadoorie Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach Repulse Bay Beach*
Cafeteria Old Beach Shek O Beach*
Castle Peak Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach Silverstrand Beach*
Golden Beach* Trio 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, Clear Water Bay First Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Anglers' Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach from Grade 4 to Grade 3.  Repulse Bay Beach and Shek O Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Ting Kau 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 tropical cyclone 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. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD's beach thematic website.
 
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from April 1. Due to the damage caused to the footpaths leading to Chung Hom Kok Beach by landslides, the beach is temporarily closed until further notice. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
 
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which is a non-gazetted beach that has no lifesaving service.