Start with your provider
- City of Coral Springs: lime-softened Biscayne Aquifer water with chloramine; total dissolved solids of 194 ppm in the 2025 report. RO makes a noticeable difference in dissolved solids.
- CSID: reverse osmosis at the plant with some water blended back, then chloramine. Home RO mainly removes the disinfectant and polishes taste.
- NSID: nanofiltration and reverse osmosis, then chloramine. Similar to CSID.
- Royal Waterworks: check its report.
The options compared
| Option | Good for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | Low cost, renters | Small volume; many not designed for chloramine |
| Fridge filter | Convenience | Small cartridge, short contact time |
| Under-sink alkaline RO | Drinking and cooking water | One faucet; filters to maintain |
| Whole-home filter | Chloramine at every tap | Not a drinking-water polisher |
What usually fits
- Townhome or condo: an under-sink RO. Check HOA rules before drilling a countertop.
- Single-family house: whole-home system plus RO at the kitchen sink, with a fridge line if you want filtered ice.
- Office or gym: RO for a drinking station.
See whole-house filtration vs. RO.
How to choose
- List what bothers you: taste, smell, bottled-water cost, spots.
- Find your provider and test at your tap.
- Check certifications: NSF/ANSI 42 for taste and chloramine, 53 for health-related reductions, 58 for RO.
- Compare upkeep, not just purchase price.
Living Water's drinking water system
The compact alkaline RO is multi-stage with a dedicated faucet and an alkaline stage after the membrane. See RO in Coral Springs and what drives RO cost.
Bottled water vs. a home system
If you buy cases of water, compare that with an RO's filter changes over time using the bottled water vs. RO calculator. Questions to ask any seller: the exact model, its certifications, how chloramine is handled before the membrane, the filter schedule and who services it locally.
Maintenance you can live with
The best system is the one that gets maintained. Before buying, ask how often each filter is changed, whether the changes are simple twist-off cartridges, and whether service can be scheduled. Write change dates on the housings. On chloraminated Coral Springs water, the carbon pre-filter that protects the membrane is the one not to skip, because a worn pre-filter shortens membrane life. If taste drops or the faucet slows, it is time for service.
A good rule of thumb: if a seller cannot tell you the exact model, its certification listing and the filter schedule in writing, keep looking. Jorge puts all three on the itemized quote after the free test, so you can compare it with anything else you are considering.
https://www.coralsprings.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works/Water-Districts
https://www.coralsprings.gov/files/content/public/v/8/government/departments/public-works/water-quality/2025-water-quality-report_1.pdf
https://www.csidfl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/csid-4060291-ccr-2024.pdf
https://nsidfl.gov/water_quality_reports/2024.pdf
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist