What is in the shower water
The City of Miami Beach buys its water from the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD), mostly from the Hialeah and Preston plants, and it is disinfected with chloramine. Hot showers release more of its smell. The plants reduce hardness with lime treatment and enhanced softening, so how much remains varies by tap and is worth measuring.
Island life adds up
On Miami Beach, the shower is often rinsing off sun, sea salt, sand and pool water. Sun exposure and frequent swimming can leave skin feeling dry on their own, and a long hot shower afterward can add to it. That is one reason water treatment is not a sure fix: the shower is only one piece. Simple steps help too: lukewarm water, shorter showers, a gentle cleanser and moisturizer right after drying off. If dryness, itching or rashes persist, see a dermatologist.
Options by home type
| Home | Options |
|---|---|
| Condo or apartment | Shower-head filter (chloramine performance varies by model); unit-level treatment only if plumbing and building rules allow |
| Single-family house | Whole-home filter for chloramine at every shower; softener if hardness is confirmed |
Living Water describes its Puronics whole-home systems as removing chlorine and chloramine.
Shower-head filters on chloramine
Shower filters are small, and water passes through them quickly. Many are designed mainly for free chlorine. If you buy one for a Miami Beach shower, look for chloramine in the documentation, and change cartridges on time. During WASD's periodic switch to free chlorine, these filters may seem to work better because chlorine is easier to remove.
Water heaters and seasonal homes
A water heater set very hot makes it easy to take scalding showers, which many people find drying. In Miami Beach second homes, water that sits in a heater for weeks can also taste or smell off when you return. Flush the heater and run the showers for a few minutes after time away, and check the temperature setting. Cleaning a scaled showerhead helps too, since an uneven spray tends to lengthen showers.
What the test shows
Jorge measures chloramine and hardness at your tap, asks what you notice, and explains whether a filter, softener, both or neither makes sense for your home. Read more on chloramine filters. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/New-Water-Quality-Brochure-2025-final.pdf
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Miami-Dade-Water-and-Sewer-Department-Begins-a-Temporary.pdf
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist