Two different jobs
| Water softener | Water filter | |
|---|---|---|
| Main target | Calcium and magnesium (hardness) | Taste, odor, chlorine and chloramine, other specific contaminants by certification |
| How it works | Ion exchange with resin and brine | Media like carbon, or a membrane for RO |
| You notice | Fewer spots, less scale, appliances protected | No pool smell, better-tasting water |
| Does it remove chloramine? | No | Yes, if designed for it |
What Kendall's water tells us
WASD's 2025 Water Quality Report says the Alexander Orr, Jr. plant, which serves the area south of SW 8 Street including Kendall, uses lime treatment to reduce hardness, then disinfects and filters. WASD also explains that chloramine is formed by adding ammonia to chlorine. So on county water in Kendall, the disinfectant is always present by design, while hardness has already been reduced at the plant. That is why filtration is often the first conversation for Kendall homes on WASD water.
When you need both
- You are on a private well, where water is not softened or disinfected by a utility.
- Your tap test shows meaningful hardness and you are tired of spots and scale.
- You run a business with equipment sensitive to scale, like ice machines or commercial dishwashers.
In a combined setup, the filter and softener each do their own job on the main line, and an under-sink RO system can be added for drinking water.
Three Kendall examples
- A townhome near Kendall Drive where the only complaint is the pool smell in the kitchen water: an under-sink RO system or a filter targets that; a softener would not change it.
- A single-family home with crusty showerheads and a tank heater that pops: test hardness first; if it is meaningful, a softener addresses the scale, and filtration can be added if the chloramine smell also bothers you.
- A house with a private well: the well test decides, and it commonly calls for several stages working together.
These are typical patterns, not rules. Your tap test is what decides.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying a softener to fix a pool smell. It will not.
- Expecting a carbon filter to stop scale. It will not.
- Sizing either one without a test at your tap.
- Softening water for the lawn. Irrigation should bypass the system.
More detail in water softener vs. water filter: which do you need.
Let the test decide
Jorge measures hardness and disinfectant at your Kendall tap and explains which tool fits, or whether you need neither. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist