Start with the utility's report
The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) supplies Coral Gables and publishes an annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) on miamidade.gov. It lists detected substances, disinfectant levels and which plants serve which areas. For most of Coral Gables, that is the Alexander Orr, Jr. plant south of SW 8 Street. The report is a good baseline, but it describes the system, not your kitchen.
What an in-home test checks
- Disinfectant: chloramine at the tap, which drives taste and smell
- Hardness: the minerals behind spots and scale
- Total dissolved solids (TDS): a general measure of what is dissolved
- pH
- Iron, where staining is a concern
Jorge explains each number for taste, odor, scale and comfort. He does not issue health verdicts; that is the job of the utility's report and certified labs.
Why the tap matters in Coral Gables
The city has homes from its 1920s beginnings alongside new construction. Two houses on the same street can get the same WASD water and still see different results, because pipes, fixtures and water heaters differ. WASD keeps a service line inventory at miamidade.gov/knowyourpipes if you want to look up your service line material. If you are concerned about lead from household plumbing, a certified lab test is the right tool.
Wells and irrigation wells
If your home uses a private drinking well, the Florida Department of Health recommends testing for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year through your county health department or a certified lab. Irrigation wells are not for drinking, but testing them for iron helps explain orange stains. See well water treatment in Coral Gables.
Home screening vs. lab analysis
An in-home screening is fast and answers practical questions: is there hardness, how strong is the chloramine, is there iron. A certified lab analysis is slower and is the right choice for regulated contaminants or real estate requirements. Read home screening vs. lab analysis and what happens during a home water assessment.
Book your test
Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974. The test is free, there is no obligation, and if your water does not need a system, he will say so.
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/water/water-quality-reports.page
https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/environmental-public-health/water-quality/drinking-water/private-wells/
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist