XN000022-1991-09-26 — Page 17

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1991

OF STATISTICAL

A VERY LARGE BODY THE ESTIMATE IS BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED IN HONG KONG IN RECENT BATHING SEASONS.

THE SUMMER. THIS THE GRADING OF SOME BEACHES MAY VARY DURING

THE BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF REPRESENTS A NATURAL FLUCTUATION IN

BRING MORE OR LESS BATHING WATERS IN MOST CASES, AS RAIN AND TIDES POLLUTION TO THE BEACHES.

OF THE WATER BRST

HOWEVER, THE GRADES GIVE A GOOD GENERAL PICTURE QUALITY AT BATHING BEACHES AT THE TIME OF REPORTING AND FORM THE AVAILABLE FORECAST FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

AN EPD

SAID: SPOKESMAN

"BEACHES WITH HIGHLY DEVELOPED THAN THE GRADES SUGGEST HINTERLANDS ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE POLLUTED DURING AND AFTER HEAVY RAIN.

AFTER "BATHERS SHOULD AVOID SUCH BEACHES FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS

IF THERE 18 A STORM, LONGER IF THE WEATHER REMAINS OVERCAST OR LESS STRONG SUNSHINE.

"

THE SYSTEM FOR GRADING BEACH WATER QUALITY IS AS FOLLOWS:

GRADE "1" INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS GOOD. THE E. COLI COUNT IS NO MORE THAN 24 PER 100 MILLILITRES AT FACH BEACH 90 SWIMMERS 19 GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED RISK OF MINOR ILLNESS TO UNDETECTABLE.

GRADE "2" INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS FAIR. THE E. COLI COUNT IS NO MORE THAN 180 PER 100 MILLILITRES AT EACH BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED HEALTH RISK IS NO MORE THAN OF MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

10 CASES

GRADE "3" INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS E. COLI COUNT IS NO MORE THAN 610 PER 100 MILLILITRES AT BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED HEALTH RISK IS NO 15 CASES OF MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

ACCEPTABLE.

THE

EACH

MORE

THAN

41

GRADE 4 INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS POOR. THE E. COLI AT EACH BEACH SO COUNT IS MORE THAN 610 PER 100 MILLILITRES

CASES OF GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED HEALTH RISK IS MORE THAN 15 MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

BEACH TO SWIMMERS 18 THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSE A BASED ON A JUDGEMENT OF WHAT DEGREE OF POLLUTION IS ACCEPTABLE.

BE CONSIDERED NORMALLY, THE CLOSURE OF A BEACH WOULD ONLY

REPEATEDLY, THE URBAN OR REGIONAL COUNCIL IF A "4" GRADE OCCURRED

OVER THE BATHING SEASON EXCEEDED THAT THE AVERAGE HEALTH RISK CASES PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

BY

90

16

OF A CLOSED BEACH WOULD ONLY SIMILARLY, THE REOPENING CONSIDERED IF A "3" GRADE OR BETTER WERE CONSISTENTLY OBTAINED.

/AT PRESENT

BE