Beach babies: It's a good time for grabbing your floaties and hitting the beach as water quality at 18 locales has been rated 'good' for this weekend.

The Environmental Protection Department has rated water quality at 18 beaches 'good' for this weekend. One of them, Big Wave Bay, has been upgraded from its 'fair' rating last week.

Fifteen other beaches are 'fair' for this weekend, including St. Stephen's, Lower Cheung Sha and Silver Mine Bay which were rated 'good' last week.

Meanwhile, seven beaches - Anglers', Approach, Ting Kau, Casam, Gemini, Hoi Mei Wan and Lido - are closed to swimmers year round because of poor water quality. The public is advised not to swim at these closed beaches.

The department also reminds swimmers that many beaches are likely to be more polluted than their grades suggest during and after periods of heavy rain.

Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.