Back to Higgs Beach (Key West)'s live score
Higgs Beach (Key West) water quality today
Official bacteria testing, in plain words.
WATER QUALITY RIGHT NOW
Poor
Latest test: poor (75 cfu/100mL).
Sampled Sep 8 · FL DOH Healthy Beaches, conditions may have changed since
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What this means for swimming
Enterococci is the indicator bacteria official beach programs test for, typically every week or two. Under 35 per 100 mL is the all-clear band; 71 and above usually triggers a swim advisory. Counts move week to week, and heavy rain can spike them for a day or two as runoff drains.
Today's reading is in advisory territory. That does not close the beach: the sand and the walk are unaffected, but swimming is a bad idea, especially with cuts, scrapes, or a weaker immune system. The posted signs at the beach itself are the official word.
ShoreScore folds this reading into Higgs Beach (Key West)'s overall 0-100 score alongside live weather, surf, UV, seaweed reports, and storm radar, so one number tells you whether it's worth the trip.
Recent tests
6 of the last 10 official tests landed in the all-clear band. Shown oldest to newest.
Water quality at nearby beaches
Key West (Smathers)Fort Zachary Taylor (Key West)Bahia HondaMarathon (Sombrero)Coco Plum Beach (Marathon)All beaches
Also for Higgs Beach (Key West): today's seaweed and sargassum report
Source: Florida Department of Health Healthy Beaches sampling, checked daily. Informational only: posted signs and lifeguard guidance at the beach are the official word.