XN000022-1994-10-14 — Page 47

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1994

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

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

"BATHERS SHOULD AVOID SUCH BEACHES FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS AFTER A STORM, LONGER IF THE WEATHER REMAINS OVERCAST OR LESS IF THERE IS STRONG SUNSHINE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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 EACH BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED RISK OF MINOR ILLNESS TO SWIMMERS IS 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 10 CASES OF MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

COLI

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

GRADE "4" INDICATES THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS VERY POOR. THE E COLI COUNT IS MORE THAN 610 PER 100 MILLILITRES AT EACH BEACH SO GRADED, AND THE EXPECTED HEALTH RISK IS MORE THAN 15 CASES OF MINOR ILLNESS PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

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

IS

BY

SO

NORMALLY, THE CLOSURE OF A BEACH WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED THE URBAN OR REGIONAL COUNCIL IF GRADE "4" OCCURRED REPEATEDLY, THAT THE AVERAGE HEALTH RISK OVER THE BATHING SEASON EXCEEDED 15 CASES PER 1,000 SWIMMERS.

AT PRESENT, FOUR GAZETTED BEACHES: ANGLERS', CASTLE PEAK, OLD CAFETERIA AND ROCKY BAY, ARE CLOSED TO SWIMMERS. THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE BEACHES HAS BEEN MADE BY THE REGIONAL AND URBAN COUNCILS ON THE BASIS OF BEACH WATER QUALITY MONITORING DATA FOR 1993. THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED NOT TO SWIM AT THESE BEACHES. THEY ARE IDENTIFIED BY AN "X" IN THE FOLLOWING LIST.

/THE GRADES