Grading of beach water quality released

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 6) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay*).

     Twenty-one beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 17 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:
 

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach South Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach St Stephen's Beach
Discovery Bay Stanley Main Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach  

Grade 2 beaches are:
 

Anglers' Beach Kadoorie Beach
Approach Beach Lido Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Butterfly Beach Middle Bay Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Pui O Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Casam Beach Silverstrand Beach
Golden Beach Ting Kau Beach
Hoi Mei Wan 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, Clear Water Bay First Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Middle Bay 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, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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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