Grading of beach water quality released
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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 13) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
 
     Twenty-eight beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 10 as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:           
 
Cafeteria New Beach      Kwun Yam Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Lo So Shing Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Middle Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach      Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Silverstrand Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach      South Bay Beach
Discovery Bay St Stephen's Beach
Golden Beach Stanley Main Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach        Ting Kau 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:
 
Anglers' Beach Castle Peak Beach
Approach Beach Lido Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Butterfly Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Casam Beach Pui O Beach
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Kadoorie Beach and Ting Kau Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
 
     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 beaches were likely to be temporarily affected 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, October 13, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:08

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