Chlorine vs. chloramine at a glance
| Free chlorine | Chloramine | |
|---|---|---|
| Used by | City of Florida City (per its 2025 report) | WASD's main county system |
| Made from | Chlorine alone | Chlorine plus ammonia |
| Carbon reduction | Fast with standard activated carbon | Slower; catalytic carbon and more contact time usually needed |
| Smell | Classic pool-like smell | Often milder but more persistent |
Why the distinction helps you
Many filters sold in South Florida are designed around chloramine because most of the county receives it. In Florida City, the job is simpler: free chlorine. That can mean less media for the same flow, and it means a pitcher or faucet filter certified for chlorine taste and odor may be all a small household wants for drinking water. Do not let anyone sell you a chloramine-specific setup without showing why your water needs it.
Homes outside city limits in unincorporated South Dade are served by WASD's South Dade Water Supply System, which WASD's 2025 report also lists with a chlorine residual rather than chloramine.
One practical tip: if you notice the chlorine smell more strongly on some days, that can reflect normal variation in the residual. The 2025 range of 1 to 1.61 ppm shows the city keeps it within a fairly narrow band. Size a filter for the upper end, not the average.
Certification to look for
- NSF/ANSI 42 covers chlorine taste and odor reduction (and lists chloramine separately where claimed).
- Check that the listing matches the exact model and the flow rate you will run.
- Replace cartridges or media on schedule; a spent filter stops working.
Whole-home or point-of-use
If the chlorine smell bothers you in the shower and laundry, a whole-home system treats every tap. If it is only about drinking water, an under-sink RO includes carbon pre-filtration and a membrane. Living Water's whole-home Puronics systems, the Clarius iGen and Goodspring, are described by Living Water as removing chlorine and chloramine. Read chloramine in city water: choosing a filter for the wider picture.
Disinfection byproducts
Chlorination forms byproducts. Florida City's 2025 report lists TTHM at 38.53 ppb and HAA5 at 16.53 ppb, below their limits of 80 and 60. If you want to reduce these at home, look for a model whose certification lists that specific reduction.
Measure before you buy
Jorge measures the chlorine at your tap, so you know what you are filtering. Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.
https://www.floridacityfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/348/2025-Florida-City-CCR-FINAL
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist