Press Releases

Press Release

Grading of beach water quality released

The Environmental Protection Department today (December 12) released the latest grading of water quality for the four beaches which are open year round. Other beaches are closed for the winter season.

Deep Water Bay Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach were rated Good (Grade 1) while Golden Beach and Silverstrand Beach were rated Fair (Grade 2).

All four beaches are equipped with shark nets.

Golden Beach changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

Beach grades are published weekly before the weekend. The information may also be obtained from the department's homepage at www.epd.gov.hk or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Under the grading system, beaches are classified in 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 last E. coli reading exceeded a threshold figure, irrespective of the geometric mean. Swimmers are advised to avoid these beaches until the water quality improves.

Seven gazetted beaches - Anglers' Beach, Approach Beach, Ting Kau Beach, Casam Beach, Gemini Beaches, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Lido Beach - are closed to swimmers year round because of poor water quality.

The public is advised not to swim at these closed beaches.

The spokesman cautioned 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.

Ends/Friday, December 12, 2003




 
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