SINGAPORE — From Wednesday (Oct 7), beachgoers can get weekly updates on the water quality of the seven most popular recreational beaches here before they head out for some sun and swimming.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said it will start providing its Beach Short-term Water Quality Information (BSWI) more frequently to guide beachgoers on precautions to take to safeguard their health when participating in water activities at these popular spots. 

Since 2009, the agency has been releasing water quality data for these seven beaches annually.

• Seletar Island beach

• Sembawang Park beach

• Changi beach 

• East Coast Park beach

• Pasir Ris beach 

• Punggol beach

• The Sentosa Island beaches — Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong beach.

The BSWI data tells beachgoers about the levels of enterococcus bacteria (EC) in the water.

This will be expressed as bandings:

• Band 1 (Normal): EC levels are at below or equal to 200

• Band 2 (Elevated): EC levels are at more than 200, and less than or equal to 500

• Band 3 (High): EC levels are above 500, or have been at Band 2 for two consecutive weeks

When water quality is at the Band 1 (Normal) range, the public can continue with their normal primary contact water activities, said NEA.

At Band 2 (Elevated) range, beachgoers should exercise caution. Children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals should reduce primary contact water activities at this level.

Should the water quality reach the Band 3 (High) range, all beachgoers should minimise primary contact water activities. 

Still, NEA said the public does not need to be overly concerned if certain stretches of the beach go into Band 2 (Elevated) or the Band 3 (High) range in a particular week.

This is because EC levels are transient in nature and beach water is continuously flushed and mixed by currents.

Still, should the water quality deteriorate to Band 3, NEA will monitor the water quality closely, conduct investigations to identify possible pollution sources, and carry out any remedial or mitigation measures as required. 

NEA said it regularly monitors the water quality at the beaches to assess the suitability of the beaches for primary contact activities, in which an individual’s whole body or the face and trunk are frequently immersed in water, or where some water is likely to be swallowed.

Examples of such activities include swimming, waterboarding, diving and windsurfing.

EC levels are used in the World Health Organization’s guidelines for safe recreational water environments as an indicator of the water quality at recreational beaches.

Beachgoers can check the BSWI data on NEA’s website at https://www.nea.gov.sg/BSWI. They can also access the data on the myENV app.