The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 19) 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).
Twenty-one beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 17 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | South Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | St Stephen's Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Golden Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Trio Beach* |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach* |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Butterfly Beach* | Pui O Beach* |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Shek O Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Kadoorie Beach* | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lido Beach* | |
| Grade 3 beach is: | |
| Castle Peak Beach | |
Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Discovery Bay, Golden Beach, Kwun Yam Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Casam Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Silverstrand Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
“The changes 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 21 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, from August 6.
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Ends/Friday, August 19, 2022