How WASD disinfects Sweetwater's water
WASD's treatment diagram describes chlorine added as the primary disinfectant, then ammonia added to combine with it and form chloramine, a secondary disinfectant that protects the water in the distribution system. Because WASD operates all water service in Sweetwater, there is no separate city treatment step. What leaves the county plant is what arrives at your building.
Why chloramine is harder to filter
| Issue | What it means for a filter |
|---|---|
| More stable than free chlorine | Reacts more slowly with ordinary carbon |
| Needs contact time | Small, fast-flow cartridges let more through |
| Levels of 2 to 4 ppm | Small filters can be used up sooner than labeled |
| Chlorine-only labels | Many pitchers and fridge filters do not claim chloramine |
What to look for
- Catalytic carbon or media designed for chloramine.
- A chloramine reduction claim on the exact model's NSF/ANSI 42 listing; a chlorine claim alone is not enough.
- Sizing to peak flow for whole-home systems.
Living Water describes its Puronics Clarius iGen and Goodspring whole-home systems as removing chloramine and chlorine.
Two weeks of free chlorine each year
WASD temporarily switches to free chlorine once a year to clean its pipes, a practice it has followed for more than 30 years with the Florida Department of Health. In 2026 the switch ran from September 28 through October 11. You may notice a stronger chlorine taste or smell and see hydrant flushing. WASD advises dialysis patients to contact their doctor and owners of tropical fish, including restaurants and stores with fish tanks, to seek advice on removing chlorine. A chloramine-rated filter handles free chlorine too.
Apartment or house
- Apartment or condo: an under-sink RO with good carbon stages treats your drinking water.
- House or townhome: a whole-home system covers showers, sinks and laundry.
More in the chloramine filter guide.
Measure yours
Jorge tests total and free chlorine at your tap and explains what the reading means for a filter. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/news-item.page?Mduid_news=news1753893105003591
https://www.cityofsweetwater.fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/171/Water-and-Sewer-Information-Guide-2014-PDF
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist