Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 25) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay*).
Thirty-one beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 8 as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Lido Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Casam Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | St Stephen's Beach |
| Golden Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Approach Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach and Cafeteria Old Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
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, an 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.