Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 13) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay*).
Twenty-two beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 16 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 | Middle Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Discovery Bay | South Bay Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Trio Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Golden Beach |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Lido Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Casam Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second 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, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Clear Water Bay Second 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.