Homestead's own utility, not WASD
The City of Homestead says it operates its own water treatment, storage and distribution systems. Inside the city, water service and the annual Water Quality Report come from HPS Water, not the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) that serves Miami and Kendall. That matters because the treatment is different, and so are the filtration choices.
The city does keep an emergency interconnect with WASD that could supply an alternative source if needed, per its 2024 report.
From well field to water tower
Homestead's 2025 Water Quality Report describes the path:
- Water is pumped from the Biscayne Aquifer, which extends from a few feet to roughly 200 feet below ground, at two well fields located at the Wittkop Park and Harris Field treatment plants.
- Chlorine is added for disinfection.
- Treated water is stored in elevated water towers before it enters the distribution system.
The city's capital projects list includes a chlorination upgrade at Wittkop Park, a new raw water well at Harris Field and water main replacements along Krome and Flagler Avenues.
Chlorine, not chloramine, and no added fluoride
The disinfectant listed in Homestead's report is chlorine. That is a different situation from WASD areas, which use chloramine, and it means a good carbon filter has an easier job here. See chlorine and chloramine filters in Homestead.
The report also notes that the city's water fluoridation program was discontinued in June 2025 in line with State of Florida requirements. More on the fluoride page. And as part of the federal UCMR5 program, Homestead published PFAS results in its unregulated contaminants table; see PFAS filters in Homestead.
Outside the city line: Redland, farms and wells
Homestead sits next to the Redland, which Miami-Dade planning documents describe as an agricultural area of cropland, groves, nurseries and pasture. Homes out there may be on a private well, on WASD's separate South Dade Water Supply System (five small plants serving unincorporated areas south of SW 264 Street), or on HPS Water near the city. Check your bill to know which.
Private wells get no utility treatment. Iron, sulfur smell and hardness vary from well to well, and the Florida Department of Health recommends yearly lab testing for bacteria and nitrate. See well water treatment in Homestead, orange stains and rotten-egg smells.
Lead, older pipes and the city's water main work
Homestead's report explains that lead in drinking water comes mainly from service lines and home plumbing, not from the treated water itself. The city built a service line inventory, available at homesteadfl.gov/lcrr, and it is asking for volunteers for its 2026 lead and copper sampling, especially homes with lead service lines, copper plumbing or homes built before January 1, 1983.
The city also completed the Avocado water main project and lists upcoming Krome Avenue and Flagler Avenue projects to replace old water mains. If you notice discolored water after nearby main work, run cold water until it clears and contact HPS Water if it does not. A certified filter can reduce lead at a tap, but the exact model's listing must name lead reduction.
What fits a Homestead home
| Your setup | Usually worth considering |
|---|---|
| House on HPS Water | Whole-home filtration for chlorine taste and odor, plus RO for drinking |
| Newer townhome or apartment | Under-sink alkaline RO |
| Scale on glass and fixtures | A softener after a hardness test; see softener vs. filter |
| Redland or rural well | Well treatment configured from the test |
Comfort questions are covered on dry skin after showering and hard water spots, and the drinking water system guide compares the main options.
Costs, the free test and every Homestead guide
No honest price exists before a test. These pages explain what drives it: water filtration cost, reverse osmosis cost and water softener cost in Homestead. Living Water offers financing through its financing partners; you apply with a credit application, and a co-applicant can apply with you.
Read how home water testing works in Homestead, then call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.
All Homestead guides:
- Whole-home filtration
- Water softeners
- Under-sink reverse osmosis
- Water filtration cost
- Water testing
- Rotten-egg smell
- Orange and rust stains
- Well water treatment
- Chlorine and chloramine filters
- Reverse osmosis cost
- Water softener cost
- Softener vs. filter
- PFAS filters
- Fluoride filters
- Dry skin after showering
- Hard water spots and scale
- Best drinking water system
Jorge also serves Kendall and Miami.
https://www.homesteadfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6143
https://homesteadfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5457/2024-Water-Quality-ENGLISH
https://www.homesteadfl.gov/456/HPS-Water
https://www.homesteadfl.gov/810/Water-and-Sewer
https://www.miamidade.gov/planning/library/reports/2021-draft-urban-expansion-area-report.pdf
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
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