***************************************
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 30) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 beaches.
Fourteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 24 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Lo So Shing Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Repulse Bay Beach
* Discovery Bay South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach Stanley Main Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Trio Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Anglers' Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Approach Beach Kadoorie Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Lido Beach
Butterfly Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Middle Bay Beach
Casam Beach Pui O Beach
Castle Peak Beach Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Silverstrand Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach St Stephen's Beach
Golden Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Grade 3 beach is:
Ting Kau 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 websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, Approach Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Shek O Beach and St Stephen's Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Ting Kau Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3. Since its last grading (Grade 4) earlier this week, Clear Water Bay Second Beach has been upgraded to Grade 2.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," the EPD spokesman said.
"For Clear Water Bay Second Beach, we observed temporary deterioration of water quality. The latest samples taken show that the water quality of the beach has improved. Our investigation did not find any specific pollution sources, and we will continue to monitor the beach regularly."
Under the 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/Thursday, June 30, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:00
NNNN
