On county water
WASD's Orr plant lime-softens and disinfects Palmetto Bay's water with chloramine; the 2025 report lists 2.5 ppm on the main system, within limits. Some people notice chloramine in the shower more than in the glass. Hardness, reduced at the plant but not eliminated, can leave soap residue some people feel on skin and hair.
On a well
Well water has no chloramine, but it is usually harder and may carry iron, which can leave residue and stain towels and grout. If you moved from a well to county water, or the reverse, and your skin feels different, the change in water is a reasonable suspect worth testing.
Iron in well water is also hard on light-colored towels and grout, and some people notice a metallic feel. If that is part of the picture, the well's iron number matters more than anything else on this page; see iron stains in Palmetto Bay.
Other factors
- Shower temperature and length.
- Soap and shampoo choices.
- Indoor air conditioning.
- Sun, pool and salt water exposure.
- Skin conditions, which need a dermatologist.
What a test shows
Jorge measures total and free chlorine, hardness and iron. If chloramine is the difference, a filter is the relevant tool; if hardness is high, a softener may be discussed; on a well, the whole well system is in play. If the numbers are low, he will tell you water is probably not the main factor.
He also asks when the problem started. A change that began with a move, a new home or a switch from well to county water points toward water. A change that came with a new product, season or medication points elsewhere, and your dermatologist is the right person to ask.
Whole-home options
- A whole-home city water system for chloramine at every shower. Living Water describes its Puronics Clarius iGen and Goodspring systems as removing chloramine and chlorine.
- A softener if hardness is measurable and bothersome.
- A well system built from your well test.
Showerhead filters exist; small cartridges struggle with chloramine, so check the exact model's claim.
Book a test
Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974. WASD's annual free chlorine weeks, September 28 to October 11 in 2026, can also change how showers feel for a couple of weeks.
Tell Jorge which bathroom bothers you most; he can test that shower directly.https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/news-item.page?Mduid_news=news1753893105003591
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist