Press
Release
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) today (December 3) released the latest
grading of water quality of four beaches which are open all year
round. They are Deep Water Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach,
Silverstrand Beach and Golden Beach. Other beaches are closed for
the winter season.
"Among the four beaches, Deep Water Bay Beach and Clear Water Bay
Second Beach were rated Good (Grade 1) while Silverstrand Beach
and Golden Beach were rated Fair (Grade 2)," a spokesman for the
EPD said.
All the above beaches are equipped with shark nets.
Compared with the grading released last week, Silverstrand Beach
has changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
"The change is generally within the normal range of fluctuation
of the bacteriological water quality of the beach," a spokesman
said.
Beach grades are published weekly before the weekend. The information
may also be obtained from the department's website 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 E. coli 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.
People are 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, December 3, 2004
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