One disinfectant, three plants
WASD's 2025 report says homes south of SW 8 Street are generally served by the Alexander Orr, Jr. plant and homes north of it by the Hialeah and John E. Preston plants. Each plant softens a little differently, but all three disinfect the same way and feed one common distribution system. So a Tamiami home on either side of the Trail receives chloraminated water, and the filtration choice is the same.
How WASD forms chloramine
The report's treatment diagram shows chlorine added as the primary disinfectant and ammonia added afterward to combine with it. The result, chloramine, persists longer than chlorine alone, which matters in a system that delivers water across most of the county. The maximum residual allowed is 4 ppm; WASD reported a range from not detected up to 4.0, averaging 2.5.
Free-chlorine maintenance periods
WASD periodically converts its system to free chlorine for a couple of weeks. A City of Doral notice about one such period, September 9 to 22, 2024, warned residents they might notice a stronger chlorine taste or odor. Tamiami is on the same system. If your water suddenly smells more like bleach for two weeks and then returns to normal, that is likely the reason. A good filter setup handles both forms.
Why ordinary carbon can fall short
Activated carbon removes free chlorine quickly. Chloramine reacts more slowly, so a filter that works well for chlorine may let more chloramine through, especially at shower flow rates or when several taps run at once. Manufacturers deal with it through:
- Catalytic carbon or other media designed for chloramine
- Larger media beds for more contact time
- Sizing to the home's real peak flow
Background reading: choosing a filter for chloramine.
Certification to check
Look for NSF/ANSI 42 certification that names chloramine reduction, and confirm the exact model on the certifier's public listing. Ask for the rated capacity in gallons and the flow rate at which it was tested. Living Water describes its Puronics Clarius iGen and Goodspring whole-home city water systems as removing chlorine and chloramine; Jorge will show you the specifics of any model he recommends.
Where to treat
| Goal | What fits |
|---|---|
| No chloramine smell anywhere in the house | Whole-home system at the main line |
| Better drinking and cooking water | Under-sink alkaline RO |
| Both | Whole-home plus RO at the kitchen |
Many people notice chloramine most in hot showers; see dry skin after showering in Tamiami.
Measure before and after
Jorge measures total chlorine at your tap during the free visit, so you know the starting point and can judge results after installation. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
https://www.miamidade.gov/resources/water/documents/2025-water-quality-report.pdf
https://www.cityofdoral.com/News-articles/Miami-Dade-Water-and-Sewer-Department-WASD-Chlorine-Conversion
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist