Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 25) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
Twenty-five beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 11 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Silverstrand Beach |
| Golden Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Casam Beach |
| Approach Beach | Castle Peak Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Clear Water Bay First Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Lido Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Golden Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Pui O Beach, Shek O Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Anglers' Beach, Approach Beach, Casam Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2.
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.