The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 5) released the latest grading of water quality at 36 beaches.
Twenty-seven beaches were rated as good (grade 1) and nine were rated as fair (grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay BeachKwun Yam Beach
Butterfly BeachLo So Shing Beach
Castle Peak BeachLower Cheung Sha Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan BeachPui O Beach
Chung Hom Kok BeachRepulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First BeachShek O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second BeachSilver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay BeachSilverstrand Beach
Discovery Bay*South Bay Beach
Golden BeachSt. Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay BeachTong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh BeachTrio Beach
Kadoorie BeachTurtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Approach BeachLido Beach
Cafeteria New BeachMa Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old BeachMiddle Bay Beach
Casam BeachStanley Main Beach
Hoi Mei Wan 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. 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.
Under the 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 2012". The report summarises the water quality of gazetted beaches in 2012 and is accessible at a dedicated website at www.beachwq.gov.hk and EPD's website at www.epd.gov.hk.
Twenty-seven beaches were rated as good (grade 1) and nine were rated as fair (grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay BeachKwun Yam Beach
Butterfly BeachLo So Shing Beach
Castle Peak BeachLower Cheung Sha Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan BeachPui O Beach
Chung Hom Kok BeachRepulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First BeachShek O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second BeachSilver Mine Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay BeachSilverstrand Beach
Discovery Bay*South Bay Beach
Golden BeachSt. Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay BeachTong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh BeachTrio Beach
Kadoorie BeachTurtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Approach BeachLido Beach
Cafeteria New BeachMa Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old BeachMiddle Bay Beach
Casam BeachStanley Main Beach
Hoi Mei Wan 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. 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.
Under the 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 2012". The report summarises the water quality of gazetted beaches in 2012 and is accessible at a dedicated website at www.beachwq.gov.hk and EPD's website at www.epd.gov.hk.