Home Water Testing in Miami Gardens

First, which report is yours?

Miami Gardens is served by more than one utility. The city's master plan lists Miami-Dade WASD, the City of North Miami Beach (NMB Water) and, in a small southern area near NW 151 Street, the City of Opa-locka's distribution system. Your bill tells you which one. NMB Water publishes its annual report at NMBWater.com; WASD's is on miamidade.gov. Opa-locka-area customers receive county-supplied water.

What the in-home test checks

• Disinfectant (chlorine or chloramine) at the tap.
• Hardness, which drives spots and scale.
• Iron, important for well owners and homes with rust stains.
• Total dissolved solids (TDS), a general measure of what is dissolved in the water.
• pH.

The home water assessment guide walks through the visit step by step.

What it does not replace

An in-home screening is not a certified laboratory analysis. If you are on a private drinking-water well, the Florida Department of Health recommends testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates every year, and most owners should test for lead every three years. Your county health department can explain how to collect and submit samples. The screening vs. lab guide explains the difference.

Reading your utility report alongside the test

NMB Water's 2025 report says it collected more than 2,580 samples and ran more than 66,000 tests in its state-certified laboratory that year, and lists results for disinfectant, disinfection byproducts, metals and PFAS. Bring it to the visit; Jorge will explain where your tap results fit. One useful note in that report: brown or yellow water, stained fixtures or a metallic taste can point to rust or iron buildup in household plumbing.

What happens after the test

Jorge goes over each number with you and what it means for taste, odor, scale or stains in your house. If everything looks fine, that is the end of it. If something is worth addressing, he explains the options, from a single under-sink unit to whole-home treatment, and gives you an itemized quote you can take time to think over. You are not asked to decide on the spot.

When to test

• You just moved in, or bought a house with old equipment on it.
• You notice a smell, taste, stains or scale.
• You are thinking about buying a system and want facts first.
• You use a well for drinking or irrigation.

Book

Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974. There is no obligation, and if your water does not need a system he will tell you.

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