Press Release
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department today (November 5) released the latest grading of water quality of eight beaches open to the public. Other beaches have been closed from November 1, 2004 for the winter season.
All the eight beaches are rated Good (Grade 1).
They are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach |
Deep Water Bay Beach |
| Middle Bay Beach |
Repulse Bay Beach |
| Stanley Main Beach |
Clear Water Bay Second Beach |
| Silverstrand Beach |
Golden Beach |
All the above beaches are equipped with shark nets.
Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading of the eight beaches.
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 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 E. coli 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.
People are 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, November 5, 2004
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