Big Blue Water Filters vs Reverse Osmosis: Which Is Right for Your Australian Home?

Big Blue filters and reverse osmosis systems are both popular in Australian homes — but they do very different things and suit different situations. Here’s a plain comparison.

See our Whole House Water Filters Guide and our Reverse Osmosis Guide.

What Is a Big Blue Water Filter?

A Big Blue filter is a large-format whole-house filter housing (typically 10–20 inch) that fits standard cartridges — sediment, carbon, or specialty media. It’s installed on the main water line and filters all water entering the home. The name refers to the blue housing colour common to this filter size.

Big Blue filters are the backbone of most whole-house filtration setups. They handle high flow rates and are designed for whole-home use — not just drinking water. See our Whole House Water Filters Guide.

What Is a Reverse Osmosis System?

A reverse osmosis system is a point-of-use filter — typically installed under the kitchen sink — that forces water through a semi-permeable membrane, removing 90–99% of dissolved contaminants including fluoride, heavy metals, nitrates, and TDS. It produces the highest quality filtered water of any home filtration method. See our Reverse Osmosis Guide.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Which Is Right for You?

Choose a Big Blue whole-house filter if: you want chlorine and sediment removal from all water in the home — showers, laundry, kitchen, and drinking. Best for homeowners wanting whole-home coverage.

Choose RO if: you want the highest quality drinking water, including fluoride removal, from the kitchen tap. Can be combined with a Big Blue whole-house filter for comprehensive coverage.

Call us on 1800 789 781 for advice on the right combination for your home.

Frequently Asked Questions