What is in the shower water
- Chloramine: WASD adds chlorine and then ammonia to form it. Opa-locka's 2024 report lists the residual in the city's system at 0.2 to 4.1 ppm, within the 4 ppm limit.
- Hardness: reduced by lime treatment and enhanced softening at WASD's plants; your actual level is a tap test away.
- Temperature: very hot water strips skin oils no matter what is in it.
A comfort question, not a medical one
We make no claim that filtered or softened water treats or prevents any skin condition. What people describe after reducing chloramine in the shower is comfort: no pool smell, hair that feels different, less of a chlorine feel on the skin. Eczema, rashes or persistent itching belong with a dermatologist, who can tell you whether water is worth looking at in your case.
Free things to try first
- Warm, shorter showers instead of hot, long ones.
- Gentle, fragrance-free soap.
- Moisturizer right after drying off, while skin is slightly damp.
- A bathroom fan or open door so the room does not stay steamy; then, if your home runs air conditioning all day, consider that indoor air is dry too.
If you want less chloramine in the shower
| Option | Reach | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-home catalytic carbon | Every shower and tap | For homeowners; sized to your flow |
| Chloramine-rated shower filter | One shower | Good for renters; small cartridges need frequent changes; check that the claim names chloramine |
| Softener | Hardness only | Only if a test shows meaningful hardness; no effect on chloramine |
See whole-home filtration and chloramine filters in Opa-locka.
Why some weeks feel different
Each fall WASD switches to free chlorine for about two weeks and flushes hydrants; in 2025 it ran October 13 to 26. The fact sheet the city posts says customers may notice a chlorine taste or smell during that time. If your showers feel different in October, that is the likely reason, and it passes.
Homes that sat empty
If your house or apartment was empty for a few weeks, the first showers back can smell and feel different: water sat in the pipes and the water heater, and the disinfectant residual and temperature in the tank changed. Run each tap for a few minutes before judging the water. If a rotten-egg smell appears on the hot side, that is the water heater, covered on the sulfur smell page.
What Jorge measures
Total chlorine and hardness at a bathroom tap as well as the kitchen, plus pH, then a plain explanation of whether a whole-home system would make a difference you are likely to notice. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.opalockafl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5199/2024-Water-Quality-Report
https://www.miamidade.gov/water/library/reports/water-quality-2024.pdf
https://www.opalockafl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5381/Fact-Sheet-2025
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist