Press
Release
Grading
of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department today (May 13) released the latest grading of water quality of 32 beaches open to the public, rating 23 as Good (Grade 1), eight as Fair (Grade 2) 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 prevention net.
| Grade 1 beaches are: |
|
| Chung Hom Kok Beach (S) |
Pui O Beach (S) |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach (S) |
Repulse Bay Beach (S) |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach (S) |
Shek O Beach (S) |
| Deep Water Bay Beach (S) |
Silver Mine Bay Beach (S) |
| Discovery Bay* |
South Bay Beach (S) |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach (S) |
St. Stephen's Beach (S) |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach (S) |
Stanley Main Beach (S) |
| Kiu Tsui Beach (S) |
Tong Fuk Beach (S) |
| Kwun Yam Beach (S) |
Trio Beach (S) |
| Lo So Shing Beach (S) |
Turtle Cove Beach (S) |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
Upper Cheung Sha Beach (S) |
| Middle Bay Beach (S) |
|
| |
|
| Grade 2 beaches are: |
|
| Big Wave Bay Beach (S) |
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach (S) |
| Butterfly Beach (S) |
Golden Beach (S) |
| Cafeteria New Beach (S) |
Kadoorie Beach (S) |
| Cafeteria Old Beach |
Silverstrand Beach (S) |
Grade 4 beach is Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach (S).
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.
Compared with the grading released last week, Big Wave Bay Beach and Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach has been changed from Grade 2 to Grade 4.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches except for Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach," a spokesman said.
"The very poor water quality of Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach is due to heavy rain which flushed pollutants from the nearby area into the water," he added.
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.
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, May 13, 2005
|
