Water quality at three of the country’s most popular beaches has fallen since late May, when an Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) study placed all 12 of the swimming spots on its list in the “superior” category.
The EPA yesterday published the results of its eighth beach water quality survey for this year. Among the 13 beaches tested, 10 had “superior” and two had “fair” water quality, while Pingtung County’s Kenting Tiaoshih Recreational Seashore (墾丁跳石) was rated as unsuitable for swimming.
“Because of heavy rain at the beginning of the month, which washed some wastewater along the coast into the ocean, Kenting’s Tiaoshih beach has become contaminated. People are advised against swimming in it over the next few days,” said Chu Yu-chi (朱雨其), director-general of the EPA’s department of environmental monitoring and information management.
Chu added that with Typhoon Morakot approaching, people should avoid going to the beach.
“Beach water quality tends to deteriorate very quickly after heavy or torrential rains, so it is not advisable to swim in the ocean for three days after heavy rain or a typhoon,” he said.
Beach water quality is rated according to the concentration of E. coli bacteria it contains. To be rated as suitable for swimming, the water must contain less than 1,000 colony-forming units (CFU) of the bacteria per 100ml of water.
The EPA gave a “superior” rating to the water at New Jinshan Bathing Beach (新金山) and Fulong (福隆) in Taipei County, Masago (馬沙溝) in Tainan County, Kaohsiung’s Sizihwan (西子灣) and Cijin beaches (旗津), Chisingtan Beach (七星潭) in Hualien County, Shanyuan (杉原) in Taitung County, Houhu (後湖) on Kinmen, Chulowan Beach (珠螺灣) in Matsu County and Shanshui (山水) in Penghu County, and rated them as having superior water quality, Chu said.
Baishawan (白沙灣) in Taipei County and Tongsiao (通霄) in Miaoli County were rated as fair, he said.
For the latest beach water quality reports, visit the Web site www.epa.gov.tw/beach.
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