Start with the hardness reading
WASD's 2025 report says its Hialeah plant lime-softens and its Preston plant uses enhanced softening before the water reaches Miami Shores. That reduces hardness at the source, so a softener sized for very hard water may be more than you need. Ask any seller what hardness reading their quote assumes.
This is where Miami Shores differs from places served by unsoftened groundwater. A quote prepared for a well-water home or a city without plant softening will usually be oversized for WASD water. The fix is simple: test first, then size.
What drives the quote
| Driver | Effect |
|---|---|
| Measured hardness | Resin capacity and regeneration frequency |
| Household size | Daily gallons |
| Bathrooms and fixtures | Peak flow |
| Drain location | Simpler near a laundry or utility drain |
| Septic or sewer | Discharge planning |
| Added carbon stage | For chloramine, if wanted |
Ongoing costs
- Salt, set by hardness and use.
- Water and a little power for regeneration.
- Valve service over time.
Ask for a written estimate of salt use per month at your hardness and household size, and how the regeneration schedule is set. A softener that regenerates by actual use, rather than on a fixed timer, generally wastes less salt and water.
Septic homes and the Shores Estates project
The Village's septic-to-sewer conversion work, including the Shores Estates project connecting homes to North Miami's wastewater system, means some homes are changing how they drain. If yours is mid-conversion, mention it; the softener's discharge plan should fit the system you will have.
Homes already on sewer are simpler: the rinse goes to a laundry standpipe or floor drain with the proper air gap.
Questions to ask
- What hardness is this sized for?
- How often will it regenerate, and how much salt will it use?
- Where will it discharge?
- What warranty covers tanks, valve and labor?
Living Water offers financing through its financing partners; you apply with a credit application, and a co-applicant can apply with you. See water softener cost in Florida.
For businesses, the quote should also state the daily gallons it is designed for and which lines are softened.
Will a softener raise my water bill? Regeneration uses some water. Ask for an estimate at your hardness and household size.
Book
Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
https://www.msvfl.gov/shoresestatesseptictosewerconversion
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist