Chlorine & Chloramine Water Filter in Westlake

What SID and PBCWUD report

• Disinfectant: chloramine, added at PBCWUD plants.
• Highest running annual average: 3.04 ppm; individual results 0.07 to 4.53 ppm; maximum 4 ppm.
• Periodic chlorine flush: SID announces flush periods, such as July 5 to 25, 2026, with a slight chlorine increase and a pool-like smell.
• Dialysis and fish: SID advises home dialysis users and owners of fish and shellfish tanks to seek professional guidance on removing chlorine residuals.

Why chloramine is harder to filter

Chloramine is chlorine bonded to ammonia. It stays active longer in the pipes, which is its purpose, and it is less readily removed by ordinary activated carbon. Pitchers and fridge filters that do well on chlorine may reduce chloramine much less. Effective reduction usually means catalytic carbon and enough contact time for your flow. Leaving water in an open container, which works for chlorine during flush weeks, works much more slowly for chloramine.

That is also why tips that work during flush weeks, such as leaving an open container on the counter, are less effective the rest of the year. The pool-like smell during a flush is free chlorine, which escapes quickly. The flatter, more medicinal note you may notice normally is chloramine, which lingers.

What certification to look for

Look for NSF/ANSI 42 certification for chloramine reduction on the exact model, and the flow rate and capacity it was certified at. A cartridge used past its rated capacity is no longer performing as listed.

Options for a Westlake home

• Every tap and shower: Living Water's city water systems (Puronics Clarius iGen and Goodspring), described by Living Water as removing chlorine and chloramine.
• Kitchen only: under-sink alkaline RO with carbon stages suited to chloramine.

Read chloramine in city water: choosing a filter.

Whole-home systems for chloramine are sized for contact time at your peak flow, so a larger household needs more media, not just a bigger pipe connection. Ask how the system was sized.

Aquariums and ponds

Chloramine releases ammonia when broken down, which matters for fish. Use a water conditioner made for chloramine, and follow your aquarium supplier's guidance, especially around SID flush periods.

Measure it

Jorge measures chloramine at your tap and explains what you are tasting. Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.

Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist