The two jobs
| Softener | Filter | |
|---|---|---|
| Removes | Hardness minerals | Chloramine, chlorine, taste, odor |
| Lighthouse Point city water | Already soft | Chloramine present |
| Private well | Often needed | Depends on the test |
Why your supplier matters
Lighthouse Point's water is treated by Pompano Beach, which uses both lime softening and membrane softening. That's why the hardness is low. Homes in parts of South Florida where water is less softened face a different choice. If you moved here and brought a softener habit with you, test before replacing or adding one.
The same applies across the whole Pompano Beach service area, which also includes Pompano Beach and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. If a neighbor in another city swears by their softener, their water may simply be different from yours.
Signs you want a filter
- Chlorine-like taste in coffee, tea or ice.
- A disinfectant smell in hot showers.
- You want better drinking water; see best drinking water system.
Signs a softener might fit
- Household water comes from a private well.
- Business equipment specifies low hardness.
- Your own test shows hardness well above what Pompano Beach reports.
Even then, measure first: the right softener for a well depends on the well's hardness and iron, and the right one for a business depends on the equipment's requirements.
Common misunderstandings
- Pool-like smell means hard water: no, that's chloramine.
- All spots mean hardness: spots can come from dissolved solids, sprinkler overspray or salt air; see hard water spots.
- A softener filters water: it exchanges minerals; it isn't a filter.
Read the full comparison: softener vs. filter: which do you need.
What Jorge tests to decide
One visit covers chloramine, hardness, total dissolved solids, pH and iron. Hardness answers the softener question; chloramine answers the filter question; iron and pH matter on wells and for outdoor stains. You get the numbers explained one at a time, compared with what the Pompano Beach report says, and a recommendation that may be one system, two or none.
For most Lighthouse Point homes on city water, the result after testing is a whole-home chloramine system, an under-sink RO, or both, with no softener. For well properties, iron and hardness come first, then filtration. The test decides the order, and it costs nothing.
Decide with data
Jorge measures hardness and chloramine at your tap and tells you which, if either, fits. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.pompanobeachfl.gov/residents/utilities/water
https://cdn.pompanobeachfl.gov/city/pages/utilities/Final-2025-Water-Quality-Report.pdf
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist