| Press
Release
Grading
of beach water quality released
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) today (January 17) released the latest
grading of four beaches which are opened all year round.
They are Deep
Water Bay, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Silverstrand and Golden
Beach. Other beaches have been closed to swimmers since the end
of the bathing season.
"Among the four
beaches, Deep Water Bay and Clear Water Bay Second Beach are found
to be in 'Good' condition (Grade 1); and Golden Beach and Silverstrand
are 'Fair' (Grade 2)," a spokesman for the EPD said.
All these beaches
are installed with shark prevention nets.
"Comparing with
the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay Second Beach has
upgraded from 'Grade 2' to 'Grade 1'.
"The change
is within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological
water quality of the beach.
"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,
January 17, 2003
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