Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 11) released the latest grading of water quality of 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
Twenty-four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 10 as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Silverstrand Beach |
| Golden Beach | 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 | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Approach Beach | Castle Peak Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Clear Water Bay First Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Casam Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Lido Beach |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Castle Peak Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach, Kadoorie Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Lido Beach and Ting Kau 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. Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.