What gets tested
| Test | Why it matters here |
|---|---|
| Total and free chlorine | Chloramine at your tap; the City reports a 2.0 ppm average |
| Hardness | The City lime softens; your tap shows the result |
| TDS | Baseline for drinking water and RO performance |
| pH | Compare tap and filtered water |
Reading the City's report
The report covers January to December 2025 and the whole system: the City's Biscayne Aquifer wells, aeration and lime softening, filtration, and chloramine disinfection. Key lines include chlorine 2.0 ppm (0.4 to 3.4), HAA5 23.44 ppb, TTHM 22.14 ppb, fluoride 0.39 to 0.76 ppm and sodium 30.0 ppm. Your tap adds the final stretch: your service line, your plumbing and your water heater. Questions about the report go to Public Works & Utilities at (954) 724-7070.
Your tap vs. the report
Chloramine levels vary across the system, from 0.4 to 3.4 ppm in the City's 2025 samples. Water that sits overnight in your pipes reads differently from water that has run for a minute, and the hot side can differ from the cold. Jorge tests first-draw and flushed water, hot and cold, so you can see which numbers belong to the City and which belong to your house.
When to use a lab
- Lead: the City found no lead service lines, but older home fixtures can matter. The report explains how to reach the utility about testing.
- Private wells: bacteria and nitrate at a certified lab, per the Florida Department of Health.
- PFAS: a specialized lab method.
See screening vs. lab analysis.
Match the test to the complaint
- Pool smell: chlorine. See chloramine filters.
- Rotten eggs on hot water: the heater. See sulfur smell.
- White crust: hardness. See hard water spots.
- Orange marks outside: irrigation iron. See orange stains.
After the test
Jorge explains each reading in plain words, compares it with the City's report, and tells you whether any equipment makes sense. If the issue is a water heater or old plumbing, he will say a plumber is the right call. If a system does fit, you get an itemized quote to think over, with no obligation.
Book it
Have a recent water bill handy so Jorge can confirm your provider. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. Read what happens during a home water assessment.
https://www.nlauderdale.org/departments/public_works/water_plant.php
https://www.nlauderdale.org/2025%20CCR.pdf
https://www.floridahealth.gov/community-environmental-public-health/public-health-laboratories/laboratory-services/environmental-laboratory-services/well-water-testing/
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist