Grading of beach water quality released
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    The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 6) released the latest grading of water quality of 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.

    Twenty-four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 14 as Fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:           
 
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Lo So Shing Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach       Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Shek O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach       Silverstrand Beach
Discovery Bay South Bay Beach
Golden Beach St Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach         Stanley Main Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach         Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach      Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach            Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach            Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:
 
Anglers' Beach Castle Peak 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 Pui O Beach
Casam Beach Ting Kau Beach
 
    Compared with the grading released last week, Golden Beach and Hoi Mei Wan Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Approach Beach and Castle Peak Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Lower Cheung Sha Beach has been changed from Grade 1 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.

    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. 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.

Ends/Friday, October 6, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:32

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