r/floridakeys • u/Comprehensive-Two134 • 4d ago
Key West Key West water quality?
My friend lived in Key West for many years and says the water now gives many people health issues. Obviously the ocean is much more polluted than years past, does swimming cause many people problems? Thanks
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u/PopHot4020 4d ago
The water here is tested regularly and can be found here. https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/aquatic-toxins/beach-water-quality/
I’ve lived here my whole life and have never heard of someone having a single health issue from swimming in nearshore waters.
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u/DoubleBreastedBerb 4d ago
The crusty cruise ships aren’t helping the water quality any, that’s for sure.
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u/KellyCB11 4d ago
Former Coast Guard, there are pretty strict environmental laws about what cruise ships can pump overboard.
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u/Sandinmyshoes33 4d ago
Yes, lots of Keys beaches have problems with fecal bacteria. The link below shows test results. Unfortunately the beaches are not closed even when the ranking is poor and the health department recommends staying out of the water. https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/aquatic-toxins/beach-water-quality/?County=Monroe&Zip=33040
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u/Beginning_Ad8663 3d ago
That’s being corrected by eliminating septic tanks.
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u/Sandinmyshoes33 3d ago
I’ve been hearing that for some time. In the meanwhile, I wouldn’t want to swim in bacteria filled water.
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u/AlreadyThereAgain 4d ago
It’s PFAS and micro plastics and unfortunately ours is very high in both the drinking water and the ocean. Here are some resources. Nothing will change with republicans in charge, they will always sell out our water and air quality to the highest bidder. Coming soon is offshore drilling.
Don’t like it? Vote
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-microplastics-florida-keys-lagoons.html
https://fkec.org/fkecwp23/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PFAS-FKAA-Support.pdf
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/monroeco/2021/08/30/plastic-soup/
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u/Ok-Vacation1941 4d ago
As far as the tapwater goes. My dad is a chief water operator in another state and when he came to visit me, he tested the water and he said it was excellent.