Press
Release
Grading
of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department today (April 23) released
the latest grading of water quality of 33 beaches open to the public,
rating 24 as Good (Grade 1), seven as Fair (Grade 2), one as Poor
(Grade 3) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).
The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. (S) indicates
a beach that is equipped with shark net.
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung
Chau Tung Wan Beach (S) |
Big
Wave Bay Beach (S) |
| Kwun
Yam Beach (S) |
Deep Water
Bay Beach (S) |
| Hung Shing
Yeh Beach (S) |
Hairpin
Beach (S) |
| Lo So Shing
Beach (S) |
Middle
Bay Beach (S) |
| Pui O Beach
(S) |
Repulse
Bay Beach (S) |
| Lower Cheung
Sha Beach |
Shek O
Beach (S) |
| Silver
Mine Bay Beach (S) |
South Bay
Beach (S) |
| Tong Fuk
Beach (S) |
Stanley
Main Beach (S) |
| Upper Cheung
Sha Beach (S) |
St. Stephen's
Beach (S) |
| Clear Water
Bay First Beach (S) |
Turtle
Cove Beach (S) |
| Clear Water
Bay Second Beach (S) |
Kiu Tsui
Beach (S) |
| Hap Mun
Bay Beach (S) |
Trio Beach
(S) |
| |
|
Grade 2 beaches
are:
| Chung
Hom Kok Beach (S) |
Golden
Beach (S) |
| Butterfly
Beach (S) |
Kadoorie
Beach (S) |
| Cafeteria
New Beach (S) |
Discovery
Bay* |
| Cafeteria
Old Beach |
|
Grade 3 beach is Silverstrand
Beach (S) and Grade 4 beach is Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach (S).
Chung Hom Kok Beach has changed from Grade 1 to Grade
2 and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 4.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation
of the bacteriological water quality of the beach except for Ma
Wan Tung Wan Beach. The EPD is looking into the reason for the deterioration
at Ma Wan Tung Wan," a spokesman said.
Beach grades are published weekly before the weekend. The information
may also be obtained from the department's homepage at www.epd.gov.hk
or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Under the 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.
Grade 4 is assigned to beaches whose last E. coli reading exceeded
a threshold figure, irrespective of the geometric mean. Swimmers
are advised to avoid these beaches until the water quality improves.
Seven gazetted beaches - Anglers' Beach, Approach Beach, Ting Kau
Beach, Casam Beach, Gemini Beaches, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Lido Beach
- are closed to swimmers year round because of poor water quality.
The public is advised not to swim at these closed beaches.
The spokesman cautioned that many beaches were likely to be more
polluted than their 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.
Ends/Friday, April 23, 2004
|
