Grading of beach water quality released

Press Release

Grading of beach water quality released 

The Environmental Protection Department today (November 23) released the latest grading of water quality of eight beaches open for swimming. Other beaches have been closed to swimmers since November 1, 2007 for the winter season.

“All the eight beaches are rated as Good (Grade 1),” an EPD spokesman said.

Grade 1 beaches are:

Big Wave Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach
Golden Beach
Middle Bay Beach
Repulse Bay Beach
Silverstrand Beach
Stanley Main Beach

All eight beaches are equipped with shark nets.

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 grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.

Under our present 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 the 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, November 23, 2007