Grading of beach water quality released
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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 30) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
 
     Seventeen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 19 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:
 
Chung Hom Kok Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach Shek O Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach South Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach St Stephen's Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Stanley Main Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Middle Bay Beach  
 
Grade 2 beaches are:
 
Anglers' Beach Discovery Bay
Approach Beach Golden Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Lido Beach
Casam Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Castle Peak Beach Pui O Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Trio Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach  
 
Grade 3 beaches are:
 
Butterfly Beach Ting Kau Beach

     Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Butterfly Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3. 

     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," the EPD spokesman said.

     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.

     The EPD spokesman also 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.

     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.

Ends/Friday, June 30, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00

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