***************************************
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 2) released the latest grading of water quality of eight beaches.
Among them, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Golden Beach and Silverstrand Beach are open to swimmers year round.
Four other beaches in the Southern District have been opened for swimming since March 1. They are Big Wave Bay Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Repulse Bay Beach and Stanley Main Beach.
All the eight beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
The Grade 1 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay Beach Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach Silverstrand Beach
Golden Beach Stanley Main Beach
These are all gazetted beaches 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 websites on Beach Water Quality ( www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach ) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, Silverstrand Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to 1.
"The change is generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beach," 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, March 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:15
NNNN
