Press
Release
Grading
of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department today (June 24) released
the latest grading of water quality of 33 beaches open to the public,
rating 14 as Good (Grade 1), 17 as Fair (Grade 2), and two as Poor
(Grade 3).
The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. (S) indicates
a beach that is equipped with a shark net.
Grade 1 beaches
are:
|
Cheung
Chau Tung Wan Beach (S)
Chung Hom Kok Beach (S)
Deep Water Bay Beach (S)
Discovery Bay*
Hap Mun Bay Beach (S)
Hung Shing Yeh Beach (S)
Kwun Yam Beach (S) |
Lo So Shing Beach (S)
Lower Cheung Sha Beach
South Bay Beach (S)
Tong Fuk Beach (S)
Trio Beach (S)
Turtle Cove Beach (S)
Upper Cheung Sha Beach (S) |
Grade 2 beaches
are:
Big
Wave Bay Beach (S)
Butterfly Beach (S)
Cafeteria New Beach (S)
Cafeteria Old Beach (S)
Castle Peak Beach (S)
Clear Water Bay First Beach (S)
Clear Water Bay Second Beach (S)
Golden Beach (S)
Kadoorie Beach (S) |
Kiu
Tsui Beach (S)
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach (S)
Pui O Beach (S)
Repulse Bay Beach (S)
Shek O Beach (S)
Silver Mine Bay Beach (S)
St. Stephen's Beach (S)
Stanley Main Beach (S) |
Grade 3 beaches
are:
| Middle
Bay Beach (S) |
Silverstrand
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, Lower Cheung Sha Beach
has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, Clear Water Bay Second
Beach, Kiu Tsui Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, St. Stephen's Beach and
Stanley Main Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and
Middle Bay Beach has been changed from Grade 2 to Grade 3.
"The changes
are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological
water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.
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 warned 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, June 24, 2005
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