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Virginia Key water quality today

Official bacteria testing, in plain words.

WATER QUALITY RIGHT NOW

Optimal

Latest test: pristine (2 cfu/100mL).

Sampled Sep 15 · FL DOH Healthy Beaches, conditions may have changed since

Optimal
Good
Elevated
Advisory

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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.

ShoreScore folds this reading into Virginia Key'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

8 of the last 10 official tests landed in the all-clear band. Shown oldest to newest.

Jul 28Optimal · 2 cfu
Aug 4Optimal · 2 cfu
Aug 11Elevated · 48 cfu
Aug 18Optimal · 2 cfu
Aug 25Optimal · 2 cfu
Sep 1Good · 16 cfu
Sep 9Poor · 300 cfu
Sep 10Optimal · 2 cfu
Sep 14Optimal · 2 cfu
Sep 15Optimal · 2 cfu

Water quality at nearby beaches

Key Biscayne / Crandon ParkSouth BeachCape Florida / Bill BaggsMid-BeachSurfsideAll beaches

Also for Virginia Key: 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.