Grading of beach water quality released

Press Release

Grading of beach water quality released 

The Environmental Protection Department today (November 30) released the latest grading of water quality of four beaches which are open all year round. Starting from December 1, all other beaches will be closed for swimming for the winter season.

Three beaches are rated as Good (Grade 1) and one as Fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach
Silverstrand Beach

Grade 2 beach is:

Golden Beach

All four beaches are equipped with shark nets.

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.

Compared with the grading released last week, Golden Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

"The change is generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beach," an EPD spokesman said.

Under our present 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 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 the closed beaches.

The spokesman warned 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 30, 2007