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| Comparing Beach Rankings |
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Established in 1986, the EPD
has now been monitoring water quality at Hong Kong's beaches for
twenty years. During that time, it has undertaken a number of important
initiatives to improve and safeguard the health and safety of beach
users. These initiatives include: |
- developing a comprehensive scientific programme for monitoring
beach water quality;
- providing regular, reliable and up-to-date water quality information
to the general public;
- working in collaboration with other departments to extend
the sewer network and improve sewage facilities, with a particular
emphasis on reducing pollution from beach hinterlands;
- enforcing environmental legislation designed to reduce pollution
and help safeguard beach water quality.
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| Key Achievements of the
Beach Water Monitoring Programme |
| - Local scientific studies conducted
to establish beach water quality objectives |
| - Rank and grade beaches |
| - Provide up-to-date information
to the public |
| - Safeguard health of swimmers |
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Over the twenty years of its
operations, the EPD has seen a great many changes that have affected
beach water quality, for better and, sometimes, for worse. One of
the most obvious is population growth: Hong Kong's population has
grown from 5.5 million two decades ago to around 6.9 million in
2005. Such growth has brought with it rapid commercial and residential
development, particularly in new towns such as Tsuen Wan and Tuen
Mun. While Hong Kong's new towns were applauded as successful models
of urban development, initially at least they placed severe stress
on an overloaded drainage and sewerage network. Beaches suffered
as a result, with sewage frequently finding its way into the sea.
The result was that, for the first ten years or so of its existence,
the EPD observed some signs of deterioration in beach water quality. |
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[Photo of Tracking down a source
of pollution in the beach hinterland]
To improve beach water quality
over the last two decades, the EPD has implemented a whole series
of environmental protection measures designed to minimise the environmental
impact associated with the pressure of development and rising population.
Amongst these, perhaps the most significant was the implementation
of Sewerage Master Plans drawn up for districts, a process of extending
the public sewerage network right across Hong Kong. The EPD was
also heavily involved in enforcing environmental legislation, most
of it becoming effective in the late 1980s. Legislation controlling
disposal of waste and water pollution was vigorously enforced, helping
create a change of attitude amongst residents and leading to a significant
improvement in water quality at most beaches. Pollution incidents
were tackled and prevented effectively by the actions established
in the Beach Pollution Response Plan. |
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The positive achievements over
the last twenty years have been reflected in the statistics. For
example, the percentage of beaches complying with the WQO has risen
from 74% in 1986 (29 of 39 beaches recorded in the statistics) to
83% in 2005 (34 of 41 beaches), after dipping dramatically low in
the mid 1990s. Significantly fewer beaches now fail to meet the
WQO: in 1987 fourteen beaches did not comply with the WQO, but in
2005 the number had been halved to seven. In addition, the percentage
of beaches ranked 'Good' has more than doubled over the period,
soaring from just 23% in 1986 to 56% in 2005. Since 1999, the WQO
compliance rate has been steady at over 80%, a clear indication
of a genuine long-term improvement in water quality. |
Annual beach rankings of 1986 and 2005 compared |
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Level of compliance with the Water Quality Objectives at gazetted beaches, 1996 - 2005 |
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[Photo of Bathers enjoying the
broad clean sands at Repulse Bay]
As mentioned in previous
chapter (An Overview of Beach Water Quality up to 2005), back in 1986 some beaches (including
Cafeteria Old, Castle Peak, Middle Bay, Repulse Bay and Silver Mine
Bay Beaches) were either closed or on the verge of being closed
because of their poor water quality. Over the past twenty years
they have been transformed into popular, safe, and enjoyable places
at which to swim. Almost all Hong Kong's beaches have benefited
from the long-term trend of water quality improvement. |
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There is, unfortunately, still
a small group of beaches which are WQO non-compliant, all of which
are located in Tsuen Wan District. To a certain extent the water
quality of these beaches is affected by the HATS discharge. The
future holds promise here, though. With a view to opening the beaches
again, the Government is pushing forward with the introduction of
effluent disinfection. This development, part of HATS Stage 2A,
is planned for commissioning at the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment
Works in 2009, subject to acceptance by the community of the need
for the full operating costs to be recovered from sewage charges. |
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The chart above, which shows
district E. coli levels (annual geometric mean) over a twenty-year
period, is an encouraging one. The drop in E. coli levels has been
particularly marked for Hong Kong South and, less dramatically,
for the beaches of Sai Kung and the Outlying Islands, which had
already achieved relatively good water quality by the early 90s.
The EPD is confident that what has been achieved at the once-polluted
beaches of Hong Kong South can, with time, also be achieved for
Hong Kong's western beaches. |
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In conclusion, Hong Kong swimmers
have reaped the benefits of improvements over the past twenty years
that have significantly improved their opportunities all round Hong
Kong to fully enjoy the territory's beautiful beaches. The EPD's
rigorous sampling, testing and monitoring programme means that today,
beach users in Hong Kong can be confident about their health and
safety every time they go swimming. And the details of Hong Kong
beaches in 2005 also reinforce the story we have seen unfold over
the last few years: Hong Kong's water is getting better, and as
a city we are successfully reclaiming our wonderful beach resources
for all to use. |
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