Grading of beach water quality released

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 19) 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), 18 as Fair (Grade 2) and seven as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:        

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Lo So Shing Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second 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

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Butterfly Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Shek O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Discovery Bay Silverstrand Beach
Golden Beach South Bay Beach
Kadoorie Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Approach Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Lido Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Ting Kau Beach
Casam Beach  

 
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay Second Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Discovery Bay has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2 and Approach 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.

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