The questions we get asked most, answered straight. If yours isn’t here, get in touch through the form at the bottom of the page and we’ll sort it out.
Melbourne water
Is Melbourne tap water safe to drink?
Yes. Melbourne has some of the best drinking water in the world. It comes from protected mountain catchments in the Yarra Ranges, is tested constantly, and meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. We’ll never tell you your water is dangerous, because it isn’t. What a filter changes is the taste and smell, the bits of sediment and chlorine you’d rather not drink, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly what’s coming out of your tap.
Is Melbourne water hard or soft?
Soft, for most of the city. Metro Melbourne averages around 16 to 18 mg/L, which is among the softest water in the country, so scale and limescale aren’t a big problem for most homes. The exception is the western fringe, where suburbs like Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Melton and out towards Gisborne can run harder. If you’re in one of those areas, we’ll pick it up in your free water test.
If Melbourne water is already good, do I even need a filter?
That’s a fair question, and the honest answer is: it depends on what bothers you. Melbourne water is safe, but it still carries chlorine (and chloramine in some areas) for disinfection, which is what you smell in the shower and taste in a glass or a cup of tea. Older homes can also pick up sediment and trace metals from ageing pipes. A filter deals with all of that. If your water tastes and smells fine to you, you may not need one. If it doesn’t, that’s what we fix.
What's actually in Melbourne tap water?
The main things people notice are chlorine (added to keep the water safe on its way to you), chloramine in some supply zones, and fluoride at around 0.8 to 1 mg/L. The water leaves the treatment plant very clean, but it can pick up sediment or trace metals like lead from old plumbing inside a home. A free water test tells you what’s in yours specifically, rather than the city average.
Does Melbourne water contain fluoride?
Yes, at roughly 0.8 to 1 mg/L, added to support dental health. A whole-house carbon filter does not remove fluoride. If reducing fluoride matters to you, reverse osmosis is the system that does it, which is why we install RO at the kitchen tap for drinking and cooking.
Is there lead in Melbourne tap water?
The water Melbourne supplies contains very little lead. Where lead can show up is inside your own home, in older pipes and solder, especially in houses built before the 1970s. Our whole-house system includes a stage designed to reduce heavy metals including lead, which is one of the reasons people in older homes install one.
Choosing a filtration system
How do I know which system is right for me?
We start with a free in-home water test. We check what’s actually in your water, look at how your home is set up and how you use water day to day, then recommend the setup that fits. No guesswork, no pressure to buy the biggest system. Book it through the form at the bottom of the page.
What's the difference between a whole-house filter and reverse osmosis?
A whole-house filter treats every drop entering your home, so every tap, shower and appliance runs filtered water. It’s about clean, better-tasting water everywhere and protecting your home. Reverse osmosis sits under the kitchen sink and produces very high-purity water from one dedicated tap, ideal for drinking and cooking. They do different jobs.
Do I need both a whole-house filter and RO?
Plenty of our customers have both, and they work well together. The whole-house system handles chlorine, sediment and metals across the house; the RO gives you the purest possible water at the kitchen tap for drinking, cooking and filling the kettle. Whether you need both depends on what you’re after, and we’ll talk you through it honestly at the water test.
Do I need a water softener in Melbourne?
For most of Melbourne, no. The water is soft enough that a salt-based softener isn’t necessary. We don’t sell those. Instead, our whole-house system includes a stage that stops minerals forming scale on your taps, tiles and inside appliances, while leaving the healthy minerals in your water. You get the benefit of fewer scale marks without stripping the water.
Can filtered water help with dry skin or eczema?
We can’t make medical claims, and we won’t. What we can tell you is that a lot of our customers with sensitive skin tell us the same thing: once the chlorine and chloramine are gone, their showers feel gentler and their skin feels less dry. Whether that’s right for you is worth a chat with us and, if it’s a medical concern, your doctor.
Is filtered water safe for pets?
Yes. The same water that’s better for you is better for them. We’ve had more than one customer tell us their dog now refuses to drink from anywhere else.
Whole-house filtration
How does the whole-house system work?
It’s a four-stage system installed where the water main enters your home. The stages work in order: a sediment filter catches sand, silt and rust; a coconut carbon filter reduces chlorine, chemicals and odours; an ion-exchange stage targets heavy metals including lead; and a final stage helps prevent scale building up on surfaces. The result is filtered water at every tap and shower.
What does the whole-house filter remove?
It reduces chlorine, sediment, unpleasant tastes and odours, a large share of volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals including lead. It does not remove fluoride (that’s what RO is for), and it deliberately leaves the healthy minerals in your water.
Will a whole-house filter reduce my water pressure?
It’s designed not to. The large cartridges keep water flowing while they filter, so most homes notice clean water without a noticeable drop in pressure. If your home has anything unusual about its plumbing or pressure, we’ll flag it at the water test rather than after install.
Where does the whole-house system get installed, and will it fit?
It goes on the mains where water enters your home, often in a garage, on an external wall or in a similar spot. The units are compact and can be relocated if needed. We’ll work out the right position during the water test so it’s neat and out of the way.
Is the whole-house system certified?
Yes. It carries WaterMark certification (WM080127), which is the Australian standard for plumbing products.
Reverse osmosis
What is reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis (RO) pushes water through an extremely fine membrane that filters out contaminants down to a tiny fraction of a micron. It’s one of the most thorough forms of water purification available for a home, which is why we use it for drinking water at the kitchen sink.
What does RO remove?
Our RO system membranes are certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 and are designed to reduce fluoride, chlorine, chloramine, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, microplastics and PFAS, along with a range of tastes and odours. It’s the setup we recommend when you want the cleanest possible glass of water.
Does RO strip out the healthy minerals?
RO does remove minerals as part of purifying the water, so ours adds a remineralisation stage that puts good minerals back in and balances the water before it reaches your tap. You get purity without the flat taste that unremineralised RO water can have.
Does reverse osmosis waste water?
RO produces some wastewater as part of how it filters, roughly 1.5 litres to make 1 litre of purified water. It’s a normal part of the process, and for the quality of drinking water you get in return, most people find it a fair trade.
Where does the RO system go?
Under your kitchen sink, connected to its own dedicated tap on the bench. Your other taps keep running as normal; the RO tap is there when you want purified water for drinking or cooking.
Rainwater
Can PureFlow make my rainwater safe to drink?
Yes. Our rainwater system uses sediment filtration followed by UV treatment, which deals with the bacteria, viruses and protozoa (like E. coli and Giardia) that can live in tank water. It’s built for households relying on rainwater who want it safe at the tap.
How does the rainwater system work?
Three stages: a sediment filter to catch the coarse material, a finer filter to polish the water, and a UV lamp that neutralises living contaminants. The UV unit has a built-in timer and alarm so you know when the lamp needs attention. It can be fitted before your pump or after the tank, depending on your setup.
Cost, finance and value
How much does a system cost?
We don’t list fixed prices, because the right system depends on your home. Your quote is built from the system or systems you choose (whole house, RO, rainwater, or a combination), the size of your home and how many outlets it feeds, the cartridge size that suits your usage, and anything specific about installing at your property. After the free water test, you get a clear quote with no surprises.
Do you offer finance?
Yes. We’ve partnered with Brighte as our main finance provider for simple, interest-free (0%) payment plans, and we also offer humm. You can get set up with $0 upfront, so you don’t have to pay it all at once.
What does it cost to run?
The main ongoing cost is replacing the filter cartridges, which is typically every 6 to 12 months depending on the system and your water use. Most customers fit the replacements themselves, or we can do it for you.
Is it worth it compared to bottled water or a jug filter?
A jug filter only cleans what you pour into it, and bottled water adds up fast and creates a lot of plastic. A whole-house system filters every tap in the house, and RO gives you better-than-bottled water on tap for a fraction of the ongoing cost. Most customers see it as something that pays off over time rather than an expense they repeat fore
Installation and service
Who installs the system?
Licensed Melbourne plumbers who know how to work with local plumbing and water-meter setups. It’s done properly, neatly, and to code.
How long does installation take?
A whole-house system is usually installed in about half a day. An under-sink RO system takes a few hours. We’ll give you a clear timeframe when we quote.
Do you service my area?
We cover all of Greater Melbourne, including Frankston, Dandenong, Cranbourne, Glen Waverley, Brighton, Toorak, Caulfield, Berwick, Pakenham, Doncaster and everywhere in between.
What happens at the free water consultation?
We come to you, test the water from your tap, talk through what you’re noticing and how your household uses water, then recommend the setup that actually fits. If you don’t need a big system, we’ll tell you. Book it through the form at the bottom of the pag
Maintenance, support and warranty
How often do the filters need changing?
Generally every 6 to 12 months, depending on the system and how much water your household gets through. We’ll let you know what to expect for your specific setu
Do I change the filters myself?
Most customers do, and it’s a simple job once you’ve done it once. Use genuine PureFlow cartridges, turn off the water supply before you open anything, and flush the system through afterwards. If you’d rather not, we’re happy to come and do it for you. See our maintenance guide for the details.
How do I know when it's time for a replacement?
We keep track and send you a reminder, so you don’t have to think about it. A drop in water pressure, or a taste or smell returning, are the usual signs. The UV rainwater system also has its own built-in alarm for the lamp.
What warranty do I get?
Every system we install comes with a full warranty. The whole-house units carry a 2-year product warranty and a 7-year workmanship warranty. We’ll confirm the exact terms for your system when we quote.
What if something goes wrong?
You call us, and we sort it. We’re a local Melbourne team, not a call centre in another state, so you’re dealing with the people who installed your system.
Are you a real, local company?
Yes. PureFlow Filtration™ is Melbourne-based, founded by Monte, and we install across Greater Melbourne. We’re the 2026 Australian Trade Retail Business of the Year, and we’ve got hundreds of five-star reviews from local families. If you want to check us out before you commit, please do.
Still have a question? Fill in the form below and we’ll get back to you. Or book your free in-home water consultation and we’ll answer everything in person.