What we can and cannot say
Living Water does not diagnose or treat skin conditions. Dryness has many causes, including hot water, soaps, air conditioning and health conditions. A dermatologist is the right person for persistent symptoms. Our part is measuring the water so you know whether it is a factor worth changing.
The two water factors
- Chloramine. WASD's main system averaged 2.5 ppm in 2025. Hot showers release more of the smell, and many people notice it on skin and hair.
- Remaining hardness. WASD softens at the plant on both sides of SW 8 Street, but some hardness can remain and react with soap.
Jorge tests both at your shower, hot and cold, so you can see which matters in your home.
Tamiami homes on both sides of SW 8 Street receive chloraminated water from WASD's common system, so this is not a north-or-south question; the reading at your own shower is what counts.
Matching option to result
| Shower test shows | Consider |
|---|---|
| Chloramine is the main factor | Whole-home filtration |
| Hardness leaves residue | A softener |
| Both | A combined system sized from the test |
| Neither stands out | Habits and a talk with a dermatologist |
The table is a starting point. Some homes show modest readings for both and still prefer a whole-home system for the smell alone; that is a comfort choice you can make with the numbers in hand.
Shower-head filters
Shower-head filters are inexpensive and easy to try, but they are small. Check what the exact model is certified to reduce, because chloramine needs media designed for it, and replace the cartridge on schedule. A whole-home system treats every shower and tap at once.
If a shower-head filter improves things, that is useful information too: it suggests the disinfectant is part of what you notice, and a whole-home system would extend the same change to every bathroom.
Habits many people find helpful
- Warm rather than hot water, and shorter showers
- Mild, fragrance-free cleansers
- Moisturizer right after drying
- Cleaning shower heads that have collected mineral deposits
Cleaning a crusted shower head also restores a gentler spray, which some people find more comfortable on its own.
Test your shower
The free visit includes hot and cold readings at the shower. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. Related: chloramine filters in Tamiami, hard water spots.
Bring any shower filters you have tried; Jorge can tell you what they are rated for.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist