Grading of beach water quality released
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Twenty-three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Shek O Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach* | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | South Bay Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Trio Beach* |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Middle Bay Beach* | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Pui O Beach* |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach* | Golden Beach* |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Kadoorie Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Cafeteria New Beach* | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Discovery Bay |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Castle Peak Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
Compared with the grading released last week, Middle Bay Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Anglers' Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Approach 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," an EPD spokesman said.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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.
While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone 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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 26 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from September 1.
Note 2: This refers to the non-gazetted beach in Discovery Bay which has no lifeguard service.
Ends/Friday, September 1, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
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