On a private well: hardness and iron
Hard water reacts with soap and shampoo, leaving a film on skin, hair and tubs that many people associate with a tight feeling after showering. Iron can add a rusty tint to towels and grout. A softener, after iron treatment, changes how the water feels in the shower. See water softeners in Southwest Ranches.
Soap film on tubs and shower walls is another sign of hard water, and it builds up quickly on a well with no softening.
On Sunrise water: chloramine
Sunrise softens its water at the plant and disinfects with chloramine, with highest running annual averages of 3.3 to 3.5 ppm in its 2025 reports. Many people associate that disinfectant smell with how their skin and hair feel. A whole-home filter rated for chloramine reduces it at every shower. See whole-home filtration.
During Sunrise's yearly free chlorine weeks, the smell can be stronger for a while.
What a test shows
Jorge tests hardness, iron, pH and, on utility water, total and free chlorine. The results point to the comfort factor that is actually present, so you do not buy a filter for a hardness problem or a softener for a chloramine problem.
If you are on a well, Jorge may also suggest a certified lab test for bacteria and nitrate, which Florida DOH recommends yearly; that is separate from comfort, but worth doing.
Simple things to try
- Shorter, slightly cooler showers.
- Moisturizer right after drying.
- Gentle, fragrance-free soap.
Give any change a few weeks before judging it.
Comfort, not medicine
Softening or filtering changes how the water feels. It is not a treatment for eczema, psoriasis or any skin condition. If you have a skin problem, see a dermatologist.
Iron, towels and hair
On iron-rich wells, light towels can take on an orange tint and light hair can pick up color over time. Those are signs of iron in the house water, worth testing and treating in their own right. See orange stains in Southwest Ranches.
Test your shower water
Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974. The test is free.
https://www.sunrisefl.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11720/639149626492970000
https://www.sunrisefl.gov/departments-services/utilities/water-quality
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist