Who does what
| Role | Who | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Treats the water | Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) | WASD report on miamidade.gov |
| Buys it and distributes it in the Village | Bal Harbour Village Public Works & Beautification | [email protected], 305.866.4633 |
| Bills and accounts | Village Finance | 305.993.7317 |
| Leaks in public lines, meter boxes, mains, hydrants | Public Works | 305.993.7391; after hours 305.993.7360 |
The Village says it maintains a functional distribution system with routine inspections and maintenance. It is not responsible for leaks on private property; those go to a plumber.
Where the water comes from
WASD pumps Biscayne Aquifer groundwater on the mainland. It says its Hialeah and John E. Preston plants generally serve residents north of SW 8 Street up to the Broward line, and that its three regional plants feed one common distribution system. Hialeah uses lime softening and air stripping; Preston uses enhanced softening and air stripping towers. WASD then adds chlorine and ammonia to form chloramine, plus a phosphorus compound for corrosion control, before the water reaches the Village.
WASD says it withdraws about 330 million gallons a day from the Biscayne Aquifer through wells averaging roughly 80 feet deep. Because the aquifer lies so close to the surface, Miami-Dade County protects it with strict environmental rules. None of it is pumped in Bal Harbour; the Village receives finished water and maintains the pipes that carry it to each meter.
Bal Harbour's own column in the 2025 data
The Village posts a one-page 2025 Water Quality Data sheet that shows WASD's results next to a separate Bal Harbour Village column. A few entries from that column:
- Chloramines: 2.5 ppm, range not detected to 4.0, against a maximum of 4.
- Total coliform bacteria: 0, no violation.
- Copper at the tap: 90th percentile 1.09 ppm, with 0 of 10 homes over the 1.3 ppm action level.
- Sodium: 33 ppm.
The sheet also includes a PFAS monitoring table. Read the full sheet for every line; it is linked from the Village's water page.
One caution in reading the sheet: some Village columns mirror WASD's main system figures, and a few entries are easier to interpret with help. If a line puzzles you, ask Public Works at [email protected], or ask Jorge to walk through it during your test.
Two kinds of water meters
Bal Harbour bills water by monthly meter readings, and it offers two service types: domestic water for drinking and household use, and irrigation water, which is billed without the sewer charge. Irrigation service requires a certified backflow preventer to protect the drinking water system. In practice that means lawn and landscape water here is the same treated Village water, measured separately. It also explains why orange well stains are not the usual Bal Harbour story; see iron stains.
Oceanfront towers and village homes
Bal Harbour pairs oceanfront condominium and hotel towers along Collins Avenue with a residential neighborhood of single-family homes. The difference matters for treatment:
- Tower unit: water passes the Village meter, then building pumps, often storage tanks and risers. The association controls that equipment. An under-sink alkaline RO is the practical choice, after checking association rules.
- House: a whole-home city water system treats chloramine at every tap, with the irrigation meter left out of it.
- Hotel, restaurant, spa or gym: ion-exchange softening and filtration sized after testing.
Before deciding anything in a tower, ask management four questions: does the building use storage tanks, when were risers last replaced, is hot water central or per unit, and what are the rules for plumbing work? The answers explain much of what you taste and see at your own faucet, and they shape what can be installed.
Every Bal Harbour topic
Systems: whole-home filtration, water softeners, under-sink RO, best drinking water system, softener vs. filter.
Problems: chlorine and chloramine, rotten-egg smell, orange stains, hard water spots, dry skin, PFAS, fluoride, wells and irrigation.
Costs: filtration, reverse osmosis, softener. Testing: home water testing.
Fluoride, free chlorine weeks and booking
WASD stopped adding fluoride on June 6, 2025, and reports natural levels of about 0.1 to 0.3 ppm since; see fluoride. Once a year WASD switches to free chlorine for about two weeks (October 13 to 26 in 2025), so a stronger pool smell then is expected.
To book, call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974. He tests at your tap, in your unit or house, explains the readings plainly and recommends a system only if it fits. Living Water offers financing through its financing partners; you apply with a credit application, and a co-applicant can apply with you. Jorge also serves Surfside, Miami Beach and all of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
https://balharbourfl.gov/departments/public-works-beautification/water/
https://balharbourfl.gov/departments/public-works-beautification/frequently-asked-questions/
https://balharbourfl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-Water-Quality-Data-Miami-Dade-County-and-Village-of-Bal-Harbour.pdf
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/water/water-supply-and-treatment.page
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/release.page?Mduid_release=rel1760030439045816
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist