The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 25) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).
Twenty-four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 12 as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
|
Cafeteria Old Beach |
Lo So Shing Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
|
Anglers' Beach |
Castle Peak Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
|
Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
Compared with the grading released last week, Big Wave Bay Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Pui O Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach and Ting Kau Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3; and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 1 to Grade 3.
“The deterioration of water quality in Silver Mine Bay Beach was due to the recent heavy rainfall, while the changes in other beaches are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” an EPD spokesman said.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 17 gazetted beaches (including the newly added Tai Po Lung Mei Beach), marked with an asterisk above, from June 23.
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Ends/Friday, June 25, 2021
