Chlorine & Chloramine Water Filter in Boca Raton

What the city uses and why

The City of Boca Raton Utility Services Department disinfects the output of both its plants with a chlorine compound and lists the residual as chloramine on its Water Quality page. In its 2025 report, the running annual average for chlorine and chloramines was 3 ppm, with no violation against the regulatory maximum of 4 ppm.

Utilities use chloramine because it stays active across long distribution systems; Boca Raton maintains 740 miles of pipe. It is the reason the smell can still be present at your shower.

Why plain carbon may struggle

Standard carbon removes free chlorine quickly. Chloramine reacts more slowly, so a small pitcher or a basic carbon cartridge may pass more of it than you expect, especially at shower flow rates. Systems built for chloramine use media designed for it and give the water more contact time. The details are in the chloramine filter guide.

Certification to look for

• NSF/ANSI 42 covers aesthetic effects, including chlorine and, where listed, chloramine reduction.
• Look for chloramine named specifically on the model's listing, not just chlorine.
• Check the flow rate and capacity the listing was tested at; a whole-home system sees much more water than a pitcher.

Certification is model-specific. Ask for the exact model number and look it up.

Whole-home or point-of-use

• Whole-home: removes chloramine before water reaches showers, laundry and every tap. See whole-home filtration in Boca Raton.
• Under-sink RO: includes carbon stages that handle chloramine for drinking water, and protects the RO membrane from it.
• Both: common in single-family homes.

City water or county water: check your bill

Not every Boca Raton address is on the city utility. Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department serves unincorporated areas, including many homes west of the city limits. Its 2024 report says chloramine is added in its eastern service area, and that twice a year it switches to chlorine only for a period to clean the pipes. During a switch like that, the smell changes from the flatter chloramine note to a sharper chlorine one.

A filter rated for chloramine also handles free chlorine, so the same equipment covers both. Knowing which utility you are on simply tells you which report and which notices to watch.

Aquariums, dialysis and special uses

Chloramine must be removed for aquariums and some medical equipment, and simply letting water sit does not remove it the way it can with chlorine. If you keep fish or use home dialysis, follow your equipment provider's guidance and use a product designed for chloramine.

Measure before you buy

At the free in-home test, Jorge measures total chlorine at your tap and, if you already have a filter, after it, so you can see whether it is working. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.

Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist