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The water quality of 6 beaches in Tsuen Wan was rated as extremely poor or unsuitable for swimming. LCSD: related to the continuous heavy rain

2022-06-27T13:14:19.994Z


The weather has been extremely hot recently, and I believe that many people want to swim at the beach to cool off the heat. However, recently, the water quality of the beaches managed by the LCSD in Tsuen Wan has been rated as poor or very poor. Ring group Greenpeace speculates that water quality has deteriorated or


The weather has been extremely hot recently, and I believe that many people want to swim at the beach to cool off the heat.

However, recently, the water quality of the beaches managed by the LCSD in Tsuen Wan has been rated as poor or very poor.

Greenpeace Huan Tuan speculated that the deterioration of water quality may be related to the community planning in Tsuen Wan in the early years. The local district councilor also stated that the problem of poor water quality in Tsuen Wan has existed for more than 20 years. Swimming at the beach urges the authorities to face up to the problem.

Tsuen Wan District Leisure Services Manager Li Meichang explained at the District Council today (27th) that the relevant deterioration of water quality is related to the recent rainy weather.


Looking at the relevant information, the water quality of Tsuen Wan beaches in the same period last year was not as bad as it is now. Among the open beaches, there are still 3 beaches including Lido Beach, Regen Beach and Angler's Beach that meet the standards.

However, as of today, the water quality of the 5 Tsuen Wan beaches managed by the LCSD, including Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Ting Kau Beach, Lido Beach and Regen Bay Beach, have all been tested for water quality. Rated as 4 (very poor); the water quality of Near Shuiwan Beach was rated as 3 (poor); Shuangxian Beach and Fishing Bay Beach were not opened.

According to a comprehensive beach monitoring programme implemented by the EPD, the E. coli levels at each beach are classified into four levels during the bathing season: "Level 1" indicates that the water quality of the beach is good, and "Level 2" indicates that the water quality of the beach is good. The water quality of the beach is average, with a "Class 3" rating indicating that the water quality of the beach is poor, and a "Class 4" rating indicating that the water quality of the beach is extremely poor.

Only the "Good" and "Fair" grades meet Hong Kong's statutory water quality objectives. If a beach is rated as "Poor" or "Extremely Poor" throughout the year, the public should not swim at the beach.

In general, beaches that are consistently rated as "very poor" are closed.

Compared with the same period last year, the number of suitable swimming beaches in the district dropped from 37% to 0%

Looking at the documents of the District Council and comparing the water quality of various beaches in Tsuen Wan District last year and the fourth week of June this year, it can be seen that the water quality of half of the beaches in the district was rated as poor or extremely poor in June last year, making them unsuitable for swimming, including horses and horses. The water quality of Wan Tung Wan Beach, Near Water Bay Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Ting Kau Beach; the other 3 beaches, including Rehabilitation Bay Beach, Lido Beach and Angler's Bay, were rated as good and fair. , suitable for swimming, and the other Shuangxianwan Beach is not open.

However, in the same period of this year, the water quality of the beaches in the area has dropped significantly. Except for Shuangxian Bay Beach and Diaoyu Bay Beach, which have not been opened, the water quality of the other beaches are rated as poor and extremely poor, making the area no longer suitable for swimming. beach.

The director of the Greenpeace project, an environmental group, said that this situation should not be caused by individual pollution. She estimated that it was related to general environmental factors, but the actual cause has not yet been determined.

Chen Ke-shun mentioned that in the past, many buildings in Tsuen Wan had the problem of wrongly connecting pipes, which led to the direct flow of sewage into the beaches in the area. Later, in the harbour purification project, the government collected water from Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, Tseung Kwan O, Kowloon urban area and the northeastern part of Hong Kong Island. Sewage is transported through deep tunnels to Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works for central treatment before being discharged. The water quality of the seven beaches in Tsuen Wan that were originally closed has been improved, and they have been reopened since 2010.

She also mentioned that the water flow in Tsuen Wan is weak, so residents often complain about the odor. Therefore, the water quality in Tsuen Wan has been in a high-risk condition for a long time, and Tuen Mun is also facing a similar situation.

The director of the Greenpeace project, an environmental group, said that this situation should not be caused by individual pollution. She estimated that it was related to general environmental factors, but the actual cause has not yet been determined.

(file picture)

Today, the District Planning, Development and Facilities Management Committee of the Tsuen Wan District Council also discussed related issues. Chairman Chan Wan-chen pointed out that the poor water quality of Tsuen Wan Beach is not a one-time event. The related problems have existed for more than 20 years and have even affected the water quality of Castle Peak Road.

He mentioned that every year, he receives complaints from the public that he is not able to swim at the beach, and he is dissatisfied with it.

He believes that the authorities should solve the problem as soon as possible, "How long does it last every year? How long does it take to maintain it? Which department should be responsible?" Tsuen Wan District Councillor Lu Lingzhong mentioned that he had discussed the problem of beach water quality at the meeting, but the LCSD was at the beach. Water quality is in a passive role, often relying on the EPA for treatment.

He continued to point out that the water quality of Tsuen Wan Beach is not ideal at present, but there are still lifeguards providing services at the scene, so he cannot understand the relevant practices.

The Leisure Services Manager of Tsuen Wan District, Li Meichang, who was present, explained the incident. She said that the EPD rated some beaches in Tsuen Wan as Grade 4 (extremely poor) last week, indicating that the water there is not suitable for swimming. Affect the beach to hang red flags and broadcast to appeal to the public not to swim there.

The department cannot close the beaches after opening, unless it is affected by the epidemic.

As for why there are still lifeguards on duty at the beach rated as Level 4, it is because there are still members of the public who ignore the department's appeal to fall into the water. In order to ensure the safety of bathers, it is necessary to continue to maintain the lifeguard service.

Tsuen Wan District Leisure Services Manager Li Meichang explained the incident. She said that the EPD rated some beaches in Tsuen Wan as Grade 4 (extremely poor) last week, indicating that the water there is not suitable for swimming. Red flags were hoisted and broadcasts were made to appeal to the public not to swim there.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Li Meichang said that the poor water quality of the beach is affected by the weather, water flow and whether there is pollution flowing out of the vicinity. It is also related to the direct discharge of sewage from residential houses in the past. The department is closely monitoring it with the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department.

As for the deterioration of the water quality of the Tsuen Wan beach this time, Li Meichang pointed out that it was related to the heavy rain in the past few days.

EPD: Deterioration of water quality due to unstable weather in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province

In response to the enquiry, the EPD stated that the water quality of the beaches in Tsuen Wan District and Castle Peak Beach in Tuen Mun District deteriorated from mid-May to mid-June, mainly due to the instability in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province since mid-May. Due to the severe weather, successive heavy rains in the region washed the pollutants accumulated on land into the sea, and the sunshine during the same period also decreased, which greatly slowed down the natural recovery speed of beach water quality; at the same time, a large amount of fresh water flowed from the Pearl River into Hong Kong waters , causing the suspended solids in the seawater to rise and the salinity to drop, resulting in more obvious stratification than in previous years, which reduces the natural exchange and dilution capacity of the water body. or the bottom layer, thus reducing the self-purification effect of the water body and causing the water quality to fail to return to normal.

The weather has continued to stabilize recently, and we found that the water quality of the beaches in Tsuen Wan and Castle Peak Beach in Tuen Mun has begun to gradually improve.

In this regard, the Environmental Protection Department has rated these beaches as "Class 4" according to the Beach Standard Grading System, which means that they are not suitable for swimming. Lido Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach) hoisted red flags to remind the public not to swim at these beaches.

With the restoration of chemical supply, the disinfection facilities at the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works of the Drainage Services Department resumed normal operation at the end of April. As the self-purification capacity of the beaches can generally improve the water quality within a few days, the beaches in Tsuen Wan District and Tuen Wan Castle Peak Beach in Mun District returned to normal in early May. Therefore, the change in water quality was mainly caused by the above-mentioned weather changes.

The Drainage Services Department will continue to monitor the quality of the water discharged from the treatment plants, and adjust various operational parameters of the sewage treatment plants, including the amount of drift water used, from time to time to comply with the licensing requirements; in addition, the EPD has now stepped up its monitoring of swimming in Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun districts. The water quality of the beaches in the area and the sewage treatment facilities near the beaches are inspected to ensure that there are no other abnormal discharges until the water quality of the beaches in the area returns to normal.

Tsuen Wan Kwok Shui Road Park Skateboarding Ground Facilities Dilapidated Steps Damaged Hanging red flag urges citizens not to go swimming

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Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-06-27

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