The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 10) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).
Fifteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 16 as Fair (Grade 2), seven as Poor (Grade 3) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | South Bay Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Stanley Main Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Trio Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Pui O Beach* | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Repulse Bay Beach* | |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Golden Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Discovery Bay | Ting Kau Beach |
| Grade 3 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach | Lido Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | |
| Grade 4 beach is: | |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | |
Compared with the grading released last week, Kiu Tsui Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Big Wave Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Silverstrand Beach and Tai Po Lung Mei Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, Chung Hom Kok Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3, and Hoi Mei Wan Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 4.
"The deterioration of water quality in Hoi Mei Wan Beach was due to the heavy rain throughout the week, 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.
While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
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 16 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, from June 2.
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Ends/Friday, June 10, 2022