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Press Release
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 10) released the latest grading of water quality of 39 beaches.
Eighteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 were rated as Fair (Grade 2) and three were rated as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
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Big Wave Bay Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach
Discovery Bay*
Hap Mun Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Kwun Yam Beach
Lo So Shing Beach
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Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Middle Bay Beach
Silverstrand Beach
South Bay Beach
St Stephen's Beach
Tong Fuk Beach
Trio Beach
Turtle Cove Beach
Upper Cheung Sha Beach
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Grade 2 beaches are:
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Butterfly Beach
Cafeteria New Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach
Casam Beach
Castle Peak Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach
Golden Beach
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Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Kadoorie Beach
Lido Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Pui O Beach
Repulse Bay Beach
Shek O Beach
Silver Mine Bay Beach
Stanley Main Beach
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Grade 3 beaches are:
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Anglers’ Beach
Approach Beach
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Ting Kau Beach
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The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. All gazetted beaches are 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 websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, Big Wave Bay Beach, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1; Castle Peak Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Shek O Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Anglers’ Beach and Ting Kau Beach 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.
“For Chung Hom Kok Beach, temporary deterioration of water quality was observed. The latest sample obtained show that the water quality of the beach has improved. Our investigation did not find any specific pollution source. We will continue to monitor the beach regularly.”
Noting that a recent oil spill had affected Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District, the EPD spokesman advised the public to check the latest update from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department before swimming.
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, July 10, 2015
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