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Press Release

Grading of beach water quality released

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (November 23) released the latest grading of 11 beaches on Hong Kong Island and two beaches in the New Territories.

Since the bathing season for the other beaches in the New Territories ended on October 31, 2001, these beaches are closed to swimmers.

"Among them, 11 beaches are found to be in 'Good' condition (Grade 1), and two are 'Fair' (Grade 2)," a spokesman for the EPD said.

"Grade 1" beaches are:

Chung Hom Kok
Shek O
Deep Water Bay South Bay
Hairpin St.Stephen's Beach
Middle Bay Stanley Main Beach
Repulse Bay Turtle Cove
Clear Water Bay Second Beach

The two "Grade 2" beaches are Golden Beach and Big Wave Bay.

All these beaches have been installed with shark prevention nets.

"Comparing with the grading released last week, there is no change in the grading for all the 13 beaches," the spokesman said.

"Beach grades are released every week before the weekend in order to provide timely information for weekend beach-goers.

"The latest beach grading is also available from the EPD homepage at http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/ or the EPD's beach hotline at 2511 6666," he added.

Under the grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water.

The beach grading is calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

"Grade 4" would also be given to a beach when its last E. coli reading exceeds a high figure irrespective of the geometric mean.

The spokesman said: "At present, five gazetted beaches, namely Anglers', Approach, Ting Kau, Castle Peak and Rocky Bay, are closed to swimmers all year round because of their poor water quality or lack of beach facilities. The public are advised not to swim at these closed beaches."

In general, many beaches are likely to be more polluted than the beach 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.

The public are also advised to avoid swimming at "Grade 4" beaches as far as possible until the water quality there has improved.

End/Friday, November 23, 2001

 

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