The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 12) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Thirty-two beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), seven as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Pui O Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Shek O Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | South Bay Beach* |
| Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach | St. Stephen's Beach |
| Golden Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Kadoorie Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lido Beach* | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Butterfly Beach** | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | |
| Grade 4 beach is: | |
| Anglers' Beach* | |
Compared with the grading released last week, Ting Kau Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Butterfly Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Anglers' Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 4.
“We observed water quality deterioration at Anglers' Beach, which was largely due to the unstable weather early this week, and the lack of sunshine in the following days also impeded the beach water quality recovery. We will continue to closely monitor the beach water quality,” an EPD spokesman said.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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.
While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD's beach thematic website.
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from April 1. Due to the damage caused to the footpaths leading to Chung Hom Kok Beach by landslides, the beach is temporarily closed until further notice. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which has no lifesaving service.
Ends/Friday, April 12, 2024