Dry, Itchy Skin After Showering in Loxahatchee Groves

What water can and can't do

We talk about comfort, not medical outcomes. Hard water makes soap harder to rinse and can leave a film on skin and hair. Disinfectants like chlorine and chloramine have a smell and feel that some people dislike. Changing your water can make showers feel different, but it is not a treatment for eczema, psoriasis or any skin condition. A dermatologist is the right person for those.

On a private well

The Town's 2024 planning analysis says most homes draw from domestic wells in the surficial aquifer. Untreated well water can be hard, which affects lather and leaves residue, and can carry iron, which leaves orange tints on towels and fixtures and a metallic feel. A sulfur smell in the shower is a separate, unpleasant issue. See rotten-egg smell and hard water spots.

On PBCWUD county water

Homes on county mains along Southern Boulevard, Okeechobee Boulevard and 40th Street North receive chloramine-disinfected water. PBCWUD's 2025 report lists the residual at a highest running annual average of 3.04 ppm, within the 4 ppm limit. Twice a year the utility switches to chlorine only, and some people notice a stronger smell during those weeks.

What the test looks at

• Hardness: is a softener worth it?
• Iron and pH on a well.
• Chloramine on county water.
• Hot water: water heater condition can change smell and feel.

Whole-home options

• Well: a well water system with iron removal and softening as needed.
• County water: a city water system for chloramine, plus a softener only if hardness justifies it.
• Shower filters: compact and inexpensive, but small cartridges have limited contact time, especially for chloramine.

See whole-home filtration in Loxahatchee Groves.

Hot water matters too

Many people notice the shower feel most when the water is hot. A tank water heater on hard well water collects scale and sediment that can change how hot water looks and smells. Flushing the heater as its manufacturer recommends is cheap maintenance worth doing before buying equipment. Jorge checks hot and cold taps separately during the test so you can see whether the heater is part of the picture.

Small changes that help too

Shorter, cooler showers and a gentle cleanser make a difference regardless of the water. Then test, so you are not guessing about equipment. Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.

Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist