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Grading of beach water quality released
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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 28) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 beaches.

     Thirty-four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and three were rated as Fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:
 
Big Wave Bay Beach            Kwun Yam Beach
Butterfly Beach               Lido Beach  
Cafeteria New Beach           Lo So Shing Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach           Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Casam Beach                   Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach  
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach    Middle Bay Beach  
Chung Hom Kok Beach           Pui O 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  
Hoi Mei Wan Beach             Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach          Trio Beach  
Kadoorie Beach                Turtle Cove Beach  
Kiu Tsui Beach                Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:
 
Approach Beach                Silver Mine Bay Beach
Castle Peak 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. 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, Hoi Mei Wan Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to 1. Approach Beach was upgraded to Grade 2 from its last grading (Grade 4) this Wednesday (October 26).

     The change in grading for Hoi Mei Wan Beach is generally within the normal range of fluctuation of bacteriological water quality.

     "For Approach Beach, we observed temporary deterioration of water quality, but the latest sample obtained on Wednesday, October 26, shows that the beach water quality has returned to normal. Our investigation did not show any specific pollution sources, and we will continue to monitor this beach regularly," 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.

     People are advised not to swim at the closed beaches.

     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, October 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:06

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