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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 12) released the latest grading of water quality of 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
Thirty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and eight as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
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Big Wave Bay Beach
Cafeteria New Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach
Casam Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Discovery Bay
Golden Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach
Kadoorie Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Kwun Yam Beach
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Lido Beach
Lo So Shing Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Middle Bay Beach
Pui O Beach
Repulse Bay Beach
Shek O Beach
St Stephen's Beach
South Bay Beach
Stanley Main Beach
Tong Fuk Beach
Trio Beach
Turtle Cove Beach
Upper Cheung Sha Beach
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Grade 2 beaches are:
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Anglers' Beach
Approach Beach
Butterfly Beach
Castle Peak Beach
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Deep Water Bay Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Silverstrand Beach
Ting Kau Beach
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Compared with the grading released last week, Anglers' Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2. Deep Water Bay Beach has been upgraded from Grade 4 to Grade 2.
“The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” the EPD spokesman said.
The EPD spokesman also warned that many beaches were likely to be more polluted than their grades suggested during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
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. Grade 4 is assigned to beaches whose E coli readings show abnormalities that may affect bathers' health. Bathers should avoid swimming at these beaches until their water quality improves.
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.
Ends/Friday, May 12, 2017
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