Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 6) 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*).
Fourteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2), nine as Poor (Grade 3) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | South Bay Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Golden Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Lido Beach |
| Approach Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Casam Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
Grade 4 beach is:
| Big Wave Bay Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, Lower Cheung Sha Beach has been upgraded from Grade 4 to Grade 2 and Kiu Tsui Beach and Trio Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Pui O Beach, Shek O Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Ting Kau Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3; and Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 4.
"The deterioration of water quality at Big Wave Bay Beach was due to the frequent heavy rain since late May, while the changes in other beaches 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.