XN000022-1987-10-07 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987

5

GRADING OF BEACH WATER QUALITY

* * * * *

THE

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT

(EPD)

TODAY

(WEDNESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE LATEST BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY GRADES FOR ALL BATHING BEACHES IN HONG KONG.

THE GRADING IS BASED ON THE E.COLI DATA OBTAINED BY EPD IN ITS ROUTINE BEACH WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMME. THE E.COLI DATA USED FOR GRADING ARE BASED ON THE MEDIAN VALUES OF THE MOST RECENT FIVE RESULTS, OBTAINED OVER A TWO-AND-A-HALF MONTH PERIOD ACCORDING TO THE USUAL SAMPLING FREQUENCY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR EPD SAID THE GRADES FOR SOME BEACHES MAY FLUCTUATE. THIS REPRESENTS A NATURAL FLUCTUATION IN THE BACTERIAL QUALITY OF THE BEACHES, AS RAIN AND TIDES BRING MORE OR LESS POLLUTION TO THE SWIMMING AREAS. NEVERTHELESS THE GRADES GIVE A GOOD GENERAL PICTURE OF THE BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF THE BEACHES FORM THE BEST AVAILABLE FORECAST OF THE BEACH WATER QUALITY IN IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

THE SYSTEM FOR GRADING BEACH WATER QUALITY IS AS FOLLOW:

AND

THE

"A" GRADE INDICATES THE MEDIAN E.COLI COUNT IS BETWEEN 0-99 PER 100 MILLILITRES, AND THE WATER QUALITY IS GOOD.

"B" GRADE INDICATES THE MEDIAN E.COLI COUNT IS BETWEEN 100-999 PER 100 MILLILITRES, AND THE WATER QUALITY IS ACCEPTABLE.

"C" GRADE INDICATES THE MEDIAN E.COLI COUNT IS 1,000 OR MORE PER 100 MILLILITRES, AND THE WATER QUALITY IS POOR.

HE SAID THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT то CLOSE A BEACH TO SWIMMERS IS BASED ON A JUDGEMENT OF WHAT DEGREE OF POLLUTION IS ACCEPTABLE. NORMALLY, A RECOMMENDATION ON CLOSURE WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE URBAN OR REGIONAL COUNCIL IF A "C" GRADING OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. SIMILARLY A RECOMMENDATION TO REOPEN A CLOSED BEACH WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF A "B" GRADE OR BETTER WERE CONSISTENTLY OBTAINED. THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION.

/THE GRADES