***************************************
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 19) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 beaches.
Twenty-five beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 12 were rated as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Shek O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach Silverstrand Beach
Discovery Bay* South Bay Beach
Golden Beach St. Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach Stanley Main Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Trio Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Approach Beach Castle Peak Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Butterfly Beach Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Lido Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Pui O Beach
Casam Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. All gazetted beaches are equipped with shark nets.
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 department's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Golden Beach, Lo So Shing Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to 1. Hoi Mei Wan Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to 2.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said. "The grading of Butterfly Beach has also improved from Grade 4 to 2, after its water quality recovered from the temporary deterioration largely due to heavy rain."
Noting that a recent oil spill has affected Shek O Beach in Southern District, and red tides have recently affected a number of beaches at various districts, the EPD spokesman advised the public to check the latest updates from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department before swimming.
People are advised not to swim at the closed beaches.
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.
The EPD 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, August 19, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:02
NNNN
