Chlorine & Chloramine Water Filter in North Miami Beach

Chlorine on the website, chloramine in the pipes

NMB Water's website talks about chlorine taste and odor, and its report says the water is "chlorinated for disinfection." Both are true: chlorine is added, and in the distribution system it is combined with ammonia to form chloramine, which is what the report's disinfectant line measures. Once a year the Norwood plant switches temporarily to free chlorine, without the ammonia, and crews flush hydrants. NMB's January 2022 newsletter described one of those periods, when the plant switched from chloramine to free chlorine followed by system flushing. During those weeks the smell is usually stronger.

What NMB Water suggests, and its limits

NMB's taste-and-odor page offers simple fixes: flush cold taps for 5 to 10 minutes for three days, let water sit overnight, or use a carbon filter. Those work best on free chlorine. Chloramine does not evaporate from a pitcher overnight the way free chlorine does, and it needs more contact time with the right media, usually catalytic carbon. That is why a small pitcher or shower filter rated only for chlorine can leave the smell behind.

Two side effects worth knowing

• Rubber parts: NMB's website notes that chloramine may cause some plumbing fixture rubber to break down faster than normal. If o-rings or gaskets disintegrate within a few years, it recommends chloramine-resistant fixtures. Black specks in the water are a clue.
• Carbon fines: NMB also notes that carbon filters on fixtures or in pitchers can release small black particles. A spent or poorly flushed cartridge is a common cause; replace it as the manufacturer recommends.

Certification to check

• NSF/ANSI 42 covers aesthetic reductions such as taste and odor. Look for a listing that names chloramine, not only chlorine.
• NSF/ANSI 58 covers reverse osmosis drinking water systems.
• Check the exact model number in the certifier's online listing, along with its rated flow and capacity.

Living Water describes its Puronics Clarius iGen and Goodspring whole-home systems as removing chlorine and chloramine. Ask Jorge for the documentation on the specific unit he quotes. Our chloramine filter guide goes deeper.

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Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. Jorge measures total chlorine at your tap and, if you already have a filter, after it, so you can see whether it is doing the job.

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