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Press Release

Grading of beach water quality released

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 17) released the latest grading of four beaches which are opened all year round.

They are Deep Water Bay, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Silverstrand and Golden Beach. Other beaches have been closed to swimmers since the end of the bathing season.

"Among the four beaches, Deep Water Bay and Clear Water Bay Second Beach are found to be in 'Good' condition (Grade 1); and Golden Beach and Silverstrand are 'Fair' (Grade 2)," a spokesman for the EPD said.

All these beaches are installed with shark prevention nets.

"Comparing with the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay Second Beach has upgraded from 'Grade 2' to 'Grade 1'.

"The change is within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beach.

"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.epd.gov.hk or the EPD's beach hotline at 2511 6666," the spokesman said.

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, three gazetted beaches, namely Anglers', Approach and Ting Kau are closed to swimmers all year round because of their poor water quality.

"The public are advised not to swim at these closed beaches," he added.

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 the "Grade 4" beach as far as possible until the water quality has improved.

End/Friday, January 17, 2003

 

 

 
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