Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 18) released the latest grading of water quality at 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).
Thirty beaches were rated as good (grade 1), eight as fair (grade 2) and one as poor (grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Golden Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Trio Beach |
| Lido Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Cafeteria Old Beach |
| Approach Beach | Casam Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Grade 3 beach is:
| Castle Peak Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, Kadoorie Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been upgraded from grade 2 to grade 1. Cafeteria Old Beach has been changed from grade 1 to grade 2; Castle Peak 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 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. Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.