Dry, Itchy Skin After Showering in Boca Raton

What is in Boca shower water

The City of Boca Raton publishes two numbers that matter here:

• Chloramine: a typical total chlorine residual of 2.0 to 3.5 mg/L, there by design to keep water disinfected through 740 miles of pipe.
• Hardness: 65 to 80 mg/L, which the University of Florida IFAS scale calls moderately hard. Plant softening keeps it there.

Both are within drinking water standards. The question is only whether you prefer how your shower feels with them reduced.

Chloramine and comfort

People often describe a pool-like smell or a tight feeling after showering in chloraminated water. A shower head filter rarely has enough contact time for chloramine at shower flow rates. A whole-home system designed for chloramine treats the water before it reaches every shower. Living Water describes its Puronics whole-home systems as removing chlorine and chloramine. See whole-home filtration in Boca Raton.

Hardness and soap

Hard water reacts with soap and can leave a film that some people notice on skin and hair. Boca Raton's water is softened at the plant, so this effect is milder here than in places with very hard water. If your tap tests in the city range, a softener is optional. If you are on a private well, hardness may be much higher, and a softener becomes more relevant.

Other things worth trying first

• Shorter, cooler showers.
• A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
• Moisturizing right after you dry off.
• Running a humidifier if your home air is very dry from air conditioning.

These cost little and help many people. If symptoms persist, or you have eczema, psoriasis or another skin condition, a dermatologist is the right person to see. No water system treats a skin condition.

Seasonal residents and summer switches

If your home is on county water rather than city water, Palm Beach County Water Utilities notes in its report that it switches from chloramine to chlorine only twice a year for a period to clean its pipes. During those weeks the shower can smell more like a pool. A whole-home system designed for chloramine also handles free chlorine, so it covers both. If you are not sure which utility serves you, the name on the bill tells you.

What the test shows

At the free in-home test, Jorge measures chloramine and hardness at your shower or nearest tap and explains what a whole-home system would and would not change. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.

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