| Press
Release
Grading
of beach water quality released
The
Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today
(January 24) 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 is found to be
in 'Good' condition (Grade 1); and Golden Beach,
Clear Water Bay Second 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 changed from 'Grade 1' to
'Grade 2'.
"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 24, 2003
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