| FAQs
on Beach Water Quality
| Q.
|
What
are the differences between
gazetted and non-gazetted
beaches? |
| |
|
| A.
|
Gazetted beaches are beaches
which have been announced
in the Government Gazette
as bathing beaches and are
managed by the Leisure and
Cultural Services Department
(LCSD). Non-gazetted beaches
are those which have not
been announced as bathing
beaches. At present, the
LCSD provides services and
beach facilities only at
gazetted beaches (except
closed gazetted beaches).
These include life guard
and first-aid services,
the collection of refuse
within the beach area, the
provision and maintenance
of barbecue sites, toilets,
showers and changing rooms,
etc. Such services and facilities
are not provided at any
non-gazetted beaches by
government departments. |
| Q.
|
Which
department decides on the
opening and closing of beaches?
What role does EPD play
in making such decision? |
| |
|
| A.
|
The Leisure
and Cultural Services Department
(LCSD) is responsible
for determining the opening
and closing of gazetted
beaches. The decision is
made with reference to the
advice provided by EPD on
the suitability of beach
water quality for bathing
purposes and the consideration
of all other factors. Generally,
a beach will be closed if
it is ranked "Very Poor"
repeatedly. |
| Q.
|
What
is the difference between
the rank and grade of a
beach ? |
| |
|
| A.
|
The beach rank is determined
by calculating the geometric
mean of the E.
coli counts
of all the samples collected
during the bathing season
of the year. It indicates
the annual beach water quality
status and provides the
information on the long
term water quality trend
of a beach. In contrast,
the beach grade is determined
on the basis of the geometric
mean of the E.
coli counts
in the five most recent
sampling occasions and the
last reading. It indicates
the updated beach water
quality status and provides
information on the recent
water quality trend of a
beach. |
| Q.
|
How
did we establish the Water
Quality Objective for bathing
water in Hong Kong ? |
| |
|
| A.
|
The current Water Quality
Objective (WQO) for bathing
water in Hong Kong was established
on the basis of the results
of several epidemiological
studies carried out in collaboration
with the local academics
in the late 1980s. These
epidemiological studies
had been designed and conducted
according to the guidelines
and recommendations of the
World Health Organisation.
The WQO of Hong Kong was
set at a geometric mean
E. coli
level of 180 per 100mL.
This level was the threshold
found in the local studies
above which a significantly
higher rate of swimming-associated
illness symptom was observed. |
| Q.
|
What
are faecal indicators ? |
| |
|
| A.
|
Faecal indicators are
groups of microorganisms
used to indicate the extent
of faecal pollution. The
presence of a large quantity
of faecal indicators usually
suggests the possible
presence of some disease-causing
microorganisms.
The
most commonly used and
internationally accepted
indicator bacterium in
water pollution monitoring
is Escherichia coli
(E. coli).
E. coli
is present in large number
inside the gastrointestinal
tracts of all warm-blooded
animals including humans,
and in their excreta.
Thus, the level of E.
coli can reflect
to what extent a body
of water is polluted by
faecal matter.
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