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Press
Release
Grading
of beach water quality released
The
Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today
(November 22) released the latest grading of 11
beaches on Hong Kong Island and three beaches
in the New Territories. Since the bathing season
for other beaches in the New Territories have
ended on October 31, 2002, they are closed to
swimmers.
"Among them, 12 beaches are found to be in 'Good'
condition (Grade 1) and two are 'Fair' (Grade
2)," a spokesman for the EPD said.
"Grade 1" beaches are
| Chung
Hom Kok |
South
Bay |
| Shek
O |
St.
Stephen's Beach |
| Hairpin
|
Stanley
Main Beach |
| Middle
Bay |
Turtle
Cove |
| Repulse
Bay |
Clear
Water Bay Second Beach |
| Big
Wave Bay |
|
"Grade
2" beaches are
| Golden
Beach |
Silverstrand |
All
these beaches have been installed with shark prevention
nets.
"Comparing with the grading released last week,
there is no change in the beach grades of all
14 beaches.
"Beach
grades are released every week before the weekend
in order to provide timely information for weekend
beach-goers.
"The latest beach grading is also available from
the EPD homepage at http://www.epd.gov.hk or the
EPD's beach hotline at 2511 6666," the spokesman
said.
Under the grading system, beaches are classified
into four grades according to the level of E. coli
in the water.
The beach grading is calculated on the basis of
the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the
five most recent sampling occasions.
"Grade 4" would also be given to a beach when its
last E. coli reading exceeds a high figure irrespective
of the geometric mean.
The spokesman said: "At present, three gazetted
beaches, namely Anglers', Approach and Ting Kau
are closed to swimmers all year round because of
their poor water quality.
"The public are advised not to swim at these closed
beaches," he added.
In general, many beaches are likely to be more polluted
than the beach 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.
The public are also advised to avoid swimming at
the "Grade 4" beach as far as possible until the
water quality has improved.
End/Friday, November 22, 2002
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