The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 10) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Thirty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), and ten as Fair (Grade 2).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Anglers' Beach* | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Middle Bay Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach | South Bay Beach* |
| Golden Beach* | St. Stephen's Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Hoi Mei Wan 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 |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach* | Castle Peak Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Clear Water Bay First Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Pui O Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Silverstrand Beach* |
Compared with the grading released last week, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Golden Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Ting Kau Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2.
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, an 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 27 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from September 1. 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 is a non-gazetted beach that has no lifesaving service.
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024