The options side by side
| Option | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | No install; good for renters | Small batches; frequent cartridges; confirm chloramine claim |
| Fridge filter | Convenient cold water and ice | Limited capacity; easy to forget replacement |
| Under-sink alkaline RO | Dedicated faucet; lower dissolved solids; minerals added back | Cabinet space; scheduled filters; some water to drain |
| Whole-home city system | Chloramine reduced everywhere, including showers | Not designed to lower dissolved minerals |
None of these choices is about making water drinkable; WASD's water meets standards. They are about taste, convenience and specific preferences, and a test tells you which matters most at your tap.
What Tamiami's water points to
WASD softens water at the plant on both sides of SW 8 Street, disinfects with chloramine and, since June 2025, no longer adds fluoride. If the chemical taste is your main complaint, any option certified for chloramine reduction can help. If you want lower dissolved minerals, only RO does that. If showers bother you too, a whole-home system belongs in the plan.
Common Tamiami setups
- Condo or rental: pitcher now, or under-sink RO with approval
- Single-family home, taste only: under-sink alkaline RO, often feeding the fridge
- Single-family home, taste and showers: whole-home plus RO at the kitchen
- Home on a private well: start with well treatment, then a drinking-water stage
Households that cook a lot with water, such as rice, beans, soups and coffee, tend to get the most out of a dedicated RO faucet, because they draw from it many times a day rather than only for a glass now and then.
Questions to ask about any system
- Which contaminants is the exact model certified to reduce, and under which NSF/ANSI standard?
- How often are filters replaced at our usage, and what does that involve?
- Does it have its own faucet?
- What happens if a replacement is missed?
See whole-house vs. under-sink filters.
Ask, too, whether the system needs electricity and whether the faucet finish matches your kitchen; small details make a daily-use tap pleasant or annoying.
Bottled water versus a filtered tap
Bottled water works but means buying, storing and carrying cases. A filtered tap covers drinking, cooking, coffee and ice from the kitchen. Run your own numbers with bottled water vs. reverse osmosis.
Try it before deciding
Jorge tests your tap free and explains how each option would change it. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. Related: RO cost in Tamiami.
He will also tell you if a simpler option, like a certified pitcher, already covers what you want.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist