Press Release
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 24) released the latest grading of water quality of eight beaches.
Among them, Deep Water Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Silverstrand Beach and Golden Beach are open year round while four beaches in the Southern District have been open to the public since March 1.
Five beaches were rated Good (Grade 1) and three were rated Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Deep Water Bay Beach
Middle Bay Beach
Repulse Bay Beach
Stanley Main Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay 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 website 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/Thursday, March 24, 2005
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