Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 1) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
Twenty-six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 10 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Discovery Bay | South Bay Beach |
| Golden Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Stanley Main 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:
| Anglers' Beach | Castle Peak Beach |
| Approach Beach | Clear Water Bay First Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Casam Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Lido Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Big Wave Bay Beach and Cafeteria Old Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Kadoorie Beach has 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 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.