How to Choose a Home Water Filtration System in Australia

Choosing a home water filtration system doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a practical framework to help you decide what you actually need.

Step 1: Identify Your Primary Concern

• Chlorine taste and smell in drinking water — a benchtop water cooler or under-sink filter with activated carbon will solve this. See our Benchtop Water Filters Guide.
• Dry skin and hair from showering — a shower filter removes chlorine from shower water. See our Shower Filters Guide.
• Fluoride removal — requires reverse osmosis. See our Reverse Osmosis Guide.
• Filtered water from every tap — a whole house filter. See our Whole House Water Filters Guide.
• Heavy metals from older plumbing — a KDF-based filter or RO system.

Step 2: Consider Your Living Situation

Renting: Stick to portable, no-plumbing options — benchtop water cooler, inline shower filter. Both are fully reversible and move with you.

Homeowner: Under-sink filters, whole house systems, and RO are all viable. These require installation but provide a permanent, integrated solution.

Step 3: Set a Realistic Budget

Factor in both upfront cost and ongoing cartridge replacement. A cheap filter with expensive or hard-to-find cartridges is poor long-term value. Our cartridges are stocked year-round and clearly priced — browse our replacement cartridge range.

Step 4: Don’t Over-Engineer It

Most Australian households on town water don’t need a whole-house RO system. A benchtop water cooler for drinking and a shower filter for bathing covers the two most impactful points of use at a fraction of the cost. Start there and add more if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions