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SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) has issued its annual water quality review of the six recreational beaches for this year and Pasir Ris beach continues to be graded as "fair" in this area.
NEA has thus advised the public to refrain from swimming at Pasir Ris beach until the next review in August 2011.
The water quality of Sentosa Island, Seletar Island, Sembawang Park, Changi and East Coast Park beaches are again graded "very good" or "good".
NEA said they are suitable for primary contact activities.
In the latest grading for Pasir Ris beach, seven per cent of the collected samples had enterococcus counts greater than 200 per 100 ml, compared to eight per cent in 2009.
Enterococcus is a type of bacteria found in the faeces of human and warm blooded animals.
According to a study released by NEA in 2009, Pasir Ris beach's water quality is affected by various possible sources.
Among them is minor leakage from older sewers, moored vessels, animals, as well as discharges from small-scale sewage treatment plants that presently serve the more remote areas in Pasir Ris.
The low beach water currents are not effective in diluting and dispersing the discharges.
To help improve the water quality at Pasir Ris beach, PUB has an ongoing plan to extend the sewer network and phase out the 39 sewer treatment plants in the Halus/Tampines, Changi and Selerang areas by 2012.
PUB is also carrying out a sewer rehabilitation programme for aging sewers in this area, under which 23 kilometres of sewers will be rehabilitated by 2011.
NEA said it would continue to closely monitor the water quality at Pasir Ris beach and inform the public of the updated beach gradings in our next annual review.
-CNA/wk
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