***************************************
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 4) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 beaches.
Twenty-seven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 10 were rated as Fair (Grade 2) and one was rated as Very Poor (Grade 4).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay Beach Lo So Shing Beach
Butterfly Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Middle Bay Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach South Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach St. Stephen's Beach
Discovery Bay* Stanley Main Beach
Golden Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach Trio Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Kwun Yam Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Anglers' Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Approach Beach Kadoorie Beach
Casam Beach Lido Beach
Castle Peak Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Silverstrand Beach
Grade 4 beach is:
Pui O Beach
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. The 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 and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Silverstrand Beach and Trio Beach have been upgraded to Grade 2 and Grade 1, respectively since their last grading (Grade 4) this Wednesday (April 2).
"For Silverstrand Beach and Trio Beach, temporary deterioration of water quality was observed. The latest samples obtained show that the water quality of these beaches has returned to normal. Our investigation did not show any specific pollution sources, and we will continue to monitor these beaches regularly," an EPD spokesman said.
"The very poor water quality of Pui O Beach may be due to the recent heavy rainfall and we have been conducting pollution investigation at the beach."
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.
Meanwhile, the department has published a report entitled "Beach Water Quality in Hong Kong 2013". The report summarises the water quality of gazetted beaches in 2013 and is accessible at a dedicated website at www.beachwq.gov.hk and the EPD's website at www.epd.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, April 4, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:00
NNNN
