Is Filtered Water Better Than Tap Water? An Honest Answer

For most Australians, tap water is safe to drink — but filtered water is genuinely better in several practical ways. Here’s an honest look at what filtration actually does and whether it’s worth it.

Browse our water filter range or see our guide: How to Filter Water: Choosing the Right System.

What Does Filtering Actually Remove?

Australian town water is treated to safe drinking standards before it reaches your tap — but treatment introduces its own compounds. A quality carbon-based filter removes:

• Chlorine and chloramines — added during treatment; responsible for the characteristic tap water taste and smell
• Disinfection by-products (DBPs) — formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water
• Sediment and rust — particularly relevant in older homes with ageing pipes
• Heavy metals — lead, copper, and mercury can leach from plumbing
• Pesticides and VOCs — present in some water supplies, particularly in agricultural areas

What standard carbon filters don’t remove: fluoride, bacteria, viruses, or nitrates. For those, you need reverse osmosis or distillation.

The Real Benefits of Filtered Water

Better Taste and Smell

The most immediately noticeable benefit. Removing chlorine and chloramines eliminates the chemical taste and smell that puts many people off tap water. Most people who switch to filtered water drink more water as a result — which is a genuine health benefit in itself.

Reduced Exposure to Contaminants

While Australian tap water meets safety standards, those standards set maximum allowable levels — not zero. Filtering reduces your daily exposure to chlorine by-products, heavy metals, and other compounds that accumulate over time.

Better Than Bottled Water

Filtered tap water is a better choice than bottled water on almost every measure: it’s cheaper, produces no plastic waste, and is typically fresher. Most bottled water is simply filtered municipal water anyway.

Cost-Effective

A quality benchtop filter costs $200–$400 upfront with $50–$150/year in cartridge replacements — a fraction of the cost of bottled water for a household.

Which Filter Is Right for You?

For most Australian households on town water, a benchtop 8-stage KDF filter or under sink filter provides excellent drinking water quality. For maximum purity (fluoride removal, bore water), a reverse osmosis system or water distiller is the better choice.

Frequently Asked Questions