Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 10) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).
Sixteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Shek O Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach | Trio Beach |
| Pui O Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Golden Beach |
| Approach Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Kiu Tsui Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Lido Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Casam Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Castle Peak Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, Chung Hom Kok Beach and Kiu Tsui Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Castle Peak Beach and Hoi Mei Wan 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. The 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.