Sediment Dome Filters in Australia: What They Do and When You Need One

A sediment dome filter is one of the simplest and most effective water filtration components — and one of the most overlooked. Here’s what it does and when you need one.

Browse our replacement filter cartridge range or see our Benchtop Water Filters Guide.

What Is a Sediment Dome Filter?

A sediment dome filter is a ceramic or compressed carbon block filter with a dome shape, designed to sit in the upper chamber of a gravity water filter. Water passes through the dome from outside to inside, with the ceramic or carbon matrix trapping sediment, rust, and particles down to 0.9 microns (ceramic) or 5 microns (carbon block).

In our benchtop water coolers, the ceramic dome filter is the first stage of the 8-stage KDF cartridge — it removes sediment and bacteria before the water reaches the carbon and KDF stages.

What Sediment Filters Remove

• Sediment and rust: Particles from ageing pipes, tanks, or bore water
• Bacteria: Ceramic dome filters at 0.9 micron remove bacteria including E. coli, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium
• Turbidity: Cloudiness from suspended particles

What they don’t remove: Chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, dissolved chemicals. These require additional filtration stages — which is why sediment filters are typically the first stage in a multi-stage system.

When You Need a Sediment Filter

Bore or tank water: Higher sediment loads than town water. A sediment pre-filter is essential before any other filtration stage.

Older homes with ageing pipes: Rust and pipe debris are common in homes with galvanised or older copper plumbing.

Reduced flow rate in your existing filter: The ceramic dome is the most common cause of reduced flow — scrub the outer surface with a soft brush to restore flow, or replace when scrubbing no longer helps.

Maintenance

Scrub the outer ceramic surface monthly with a soft brush under running water to remove accumulated sediment and restore flow rate. Replace the dome filter every 6–12 months or when scrubbing no longer restores adequate flow. Browse our replacement ceramic dome filters.

Frequently Asked Questions