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Grading of beach water quality released
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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 5) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 beaches.
 
     Thirteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 24 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach    South Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach               St Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach                   Stanley Main Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach               Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach                      Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach                     Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Repulse Bay Beach
                               
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach                            Kadoorie Beach
Approach Beach                          Kiu Tsui Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach                   Lido Beach
Cafeteria New Beach                   Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach                    Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Casam Beach                             Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach                      Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach         Shek O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach                Silver Mine Bay Beach   
* Discovery Bay                          Silverstrand Beach
Golden Beach                             Ting Kau Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach                     Trio Beach
 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Butterfly Beach                          Clear Water Bay Second 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, Repulse Bay Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Ting Kau Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Kiu Tsui Beach and Trio Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Clear Water Bay Second Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3. Since their last grading (Grade 4) earlier this week, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have 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 Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach, we observed that the temporary deterioration of water quality was largely due to heavy rain. The latest samples taken show that the water quality of the beaches has improved. We will continue to monitor the beaches 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/Friday, August 5, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:00
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