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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 14) released the latest grading of water quality of 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
Twelve beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), sixteen as Fair (Grade 2) and ten as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
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Chung Hom Kok Beach
Discovery Bay
Hap Mun Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Lo So Shing Beach
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Repulse Bay Beach
South Bay Beach
St Stephen's Beach
Stanley Main Beach
Turtle Cove Beach
Upper Cheung Sha Beach
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Grade 2 beaches are:
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Anglers' Beach
Cafeteria New Beach
Castle Peak Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach
Golden Beach
Kadoorie Beach
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Kwun Yam Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Middle Bay Beach
Shek O Beach
Silverstrand Beach
Tong Fuk Beach
Trio Beach
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Grade 3 beaches are:
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Approach Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach
Butterfly Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach
Casam Beach
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Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Lido Beach
Pui O Beach
Ting Kau Beach
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Compared with the grading released last week, Deep Water Bay Beach, Kwun Yam Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach, Tong Fuk Beach and Trio Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Casam Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Lido Beach and Pui O 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,” the EPD spokesman said.
“For Approach Beach, Big Wave Bay Beach and Ting Kau Beach, they have been upgraded to Grade 3 since their last grading (Grade 4). We observed that their temporary deterioration of water quality was due to heavy rain. The latest samples taken show that the water quality of the beaches has improved.”
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 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, July 14, 2017
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