Grading of beach water quality released

Press Release

Grading of beach water quality released  

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 16) released the latest grading of water quality of eight beaches.

Among them, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Golden Beach and Silverstrand Beach are open to swimmers year round. 

Four other beaches in the Southern District have been opened for swimming since March 1. They are Big Wave Bay Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Repulse Bay Beach and Stanley Main Beach. 

Six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and two were rated as Fair (Grade 2). 

The Grade 1 beaches are:

The Grade 2 beaches are:

These are all gazetted beaches equipped with shark nets.

A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's website on Beach Water Quality or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Compared with the grading released last week, Golden Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to 2.

"The change is generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beach," an EPD spokesman said.

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.

People are advised not to swim at the closed beaches.

The EPD 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, March 16, 2012