Water quality at Silver Mine Bay exhibits strong relationship with climatology. Its water quality is excellent during dry season, but significantly worse during wet season. It is strongly governed by freshwater inflow. There is a major freshwater input 70 m south to the beach and drains through an area of about 1.08 km2. Although the stream drains through mostly grassland and shrubland, there are also low-to-medium density of agricultural activities and rural settlement at the downstream region; bacteria-laden flow can be generated through non-point source pollution. Beach salinity is the primary indicator of water quality at Silver Mine Bay.

Monthly distribution of beach gradings at Silver Mine Bay beach (2010-2014)

Aerial photo and local pollution sources

Source 1:

A natural stream with anthropogenic activities at its downstream region.

Source 2:

A storm drain discharging bypass flow from the Mui Wo sewage treatment works.