Why chloramine needs a different filter
- Slower reaction: chloramine breaks down on carbon more slowly than chlorine, so contact time matters.
- Catalytic carbon: treated to speed the reaction; common in whole-home chloramine systems.
- Sizing: an undersized system lets chloramine through at peak flow, such as two showers at once.
WASD reports the residual range in its main system as not detected up to 4.0 ppm in 2025, with a 2.5 ppm running annual average. Homes near the ends of long pipe runs can see lower readings than homes close to a main, so a tap measurement is the honest starting point for sizing.
What to look for on the label
NSF/ANSI 42 covers chlorine and chloramine reduction for taste and odor, and they are listed separately. A product certified for chlorine is not automatically certified for chloramine. Check the exact model's listing for chloramine and the flow rate it was tested at.
Ask the seller for the rated service flow and capacity too. A cartridge certified at a low flow will not perform the same when a whole family showers in the morning. For whole-home systems, the media volume and tank size are the numbers that tell you how much contact time the water gets.
Whole-home or point-of-use
| Goal | Option |
|---|---|
| Less chloramine smell in showers and laundry | Whole-home system |
| Better drinking and cooking water | Under-sink alkaline RO |
| Both | Whole-home plus RO at the kitchen |
Living Water's Puronics Clarius iGen and Goodspring systems are described by Living Water as removing chloramine and chlorine.
For a large family or a home with several bathrooms, the whole-home route is usually more practical than separate shower filters, which need frequent cartridge changes and only treat one fixture each.
Aquariums, ponds and kidney dialysis
Chloramine is a known concern for fish, so aquarium and pond owners use water conditioners made for it; ask your aquarium supplier. People on home dialysis should follow their care team's water instructions. These are specific situations, and household filters are not a substitute for that guidance.
Temporary free-chlorine periods
Utilities using chloramine sometimes switch temporarily to free chlorine for system maintenance, and you may notice a stronger chlorine smell for a few weeks. WASD announces these conversions. A filter sized for chloramine handles free chlorine too.
Who do I call about WASD water quality? WASD lists 786-552-4738 for questions about the Hialeah and Preston plants.
Measure it
Jorge measures the disinfectant residual at your tap so the filter is sized for your water. Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974. Read chloramine in city water: choosing a filter.
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
https://www.cityofdoral.com/News-articles/Miami-Dade-Water-and-Sewer-Department-WASD-Chlorine-Conversion
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist