Start with what is in your tap
Your water comes from NMB Water, Miami-Dade WASD or, in one small southern area, Opa-locka's system with county-supplied water. All of it is treated to drinking water standards and carries chloramine as a disinfectant. So the goal of a drinking water system here is taste, odor and personal preference, plus any specific concern you want a certified product for. Jorge's free test measures chloramine and dissolved solids at your tap to frame the choice.
Options side by side
| Option | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher filter | Inexpensive, no installation | Small capacity, frequent refills, many rated only for chlorine |
| Refrigerator filter | Convenient cold water | Limited contact time; check chloramine rating; replacement often overlooked |
| Faucet-mount filter | Easy to add | Slows flow; small cartridge |
| Under-sink alkaline RO | Multi-stage, dedicated faucet, adds minerals back for taste | Installation, cabinet space, some water to drain |
| Whole-home system | Treats every tap and shower | Aimed at taste and odor, not a drinking-water specialist |
Who chooses what in Miami Gardens
- Families buying bottled water every week usually get the most from under-sink RO.
- Renters in apartments often start with a pitcher, then move to RO with the landlord's OK.
- Homeowners who also dislike the shower smell pair whole-home filtration with RO at the kitchen.
- Anyone with a specific contaminant concern should pick a model certified for that contaminant under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 and check its listing.
Thinking about upkeep honestly
Every option on this list only works as well as its maintenance. A pitcher cartridge left in for six months, or a refrigerator filter nobody has changed since the house was bought, can end up doing very little. Before choosing, think about who in your household will actually track replacements. RO systems have more filters but longer intervals, and a service schedule can be set up so you do not have to remember. Ask any seller, including us, for the replacement schedule in writing and what each change involves. A slightly simpler system you keep up with beats a sophisticated one you forget about.
Why alkaline RO
Living Water's under-sink units add a remineralization stage after the RO membrane. That raises pH and puts some minerals back, which many people prefer for taste. It is a taste choice. We do not make health claims about alkaline water.
Questions to ask any seller
- Which certifications does this exact model have, and for what claims?
- How often are filters changed, and what do replacements involve?
- Does it handle chloramine, not just chlorine?
- How much water goes to drain?
See carbon vs. RO for more.
Book
Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974 for a free test and a recommendation based on your actual water.
https://www.citynmb.com/DocumentCenter/View/14691/2025-CCR-ENGLISH-web-version
https://www.miamidade.gov/water/library/reports/water-quality-2024.pdf
https://www.miamigardens-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8231/CDMP---Infrastructure-Element-DataInventory-Analysis
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist