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Straight answers about whole home water.

Costs, what's in your water, protecting your home, and your city's supply. Every answer up top, every number sourced.

Quick answersHow much does a whole house filter cost?→Do I need one on town water?→Will it lower my water pressure?→Whole house or under-sink?→
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Why is my water filter brown?

A brown filter cartridge is a filter doing its job. The brown is trapped sediment: fine silt, rust from mains and household pipes, and sometimes iron or manganese, often stirred up by mains works or summer demand. Utilities say discoloured water is usually safe. The brown simply shows what would otherwise reach your taps, shower and hot water system.

8 min read · Updated 2 October 2026

Buying a filter

Costs, types, sizing and what to ask before you buy.

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7 checks
Buying a filter

Best whole house water filter in Australia: a buyer's guide

7 min read
Cost
Buying a filter

How much does a whole house water filter cost in Australia?

4 min read
?
Buying a filter

Do I need a whole house water filter? A 2-minute checklist

3 min read
vs
Buying a filter

Whole house vs under-sink water filter: which do you need?

3 min read
1·2·3
Buying a filter

How does a whole house water filter work?

3 min read
½ day
Buying a filter

Whole house water filter installation: what happens on the day

3 min read
L/min
Buying a filter

Does a whole house water filter reduce water pressure?

3 min read

What's in your water

Sediment, chlorine, microplastics and more: what's there, and what each stage catches.

See what your filter catches
Illustration: a used brown sediment cartridge beside a new white one
What's in your water

Why is my water filter brown? What it caught, and why

8 min read
✓ ✗
What's in your water

What does a whole house water filter remove?

7 min read
µm
What's in your water

Microplastics in Australian tap water: what the evidence shows

7 min read
2.7 L
What's in your water

Is it safe to shower in tap water? What you breathe and absorb

4 min read
°C
What's in your water

Chlorine in shower water: what it is and how to reduce it

3 min read
Pb
What's in your water

Lead in tap water: why older taps and fittings matter

4 min read

Protect your home

Scale, leaks and looking after your system and appliances.

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scale
Protect your home

Hard water and your hot water system or heat pump

7 min read
leak
Protect your home

Smart water leak shut-off valves: how they work

7 min read
CaCO₃
Protect your home

Water softener vs whole house filter: what's the difference?

3 min read
12 mo
Protect your home

Whole house water filter maintenance: how often to change cartridges

3 min read

Your water by city

Hardness, disinfectant and supply differences across Australia.

Look up your city's water
mg/L
Your water by city

Hard water in Australia: which cities, and what it does to your home

3 min read
Cl
Your water by city

Chlorine vs chloramine: does your whole house filter handle both?

3 min read
ng/L
Your water by city

PFAS in Australian tap water: the 2025 guidelines explained

3 min read
UV
Your water by city

Whole house filters for rainwater tanks: sediment, carbon and UV

3 min read
Glossary

Water words, explained.

From catalytic carbon to WaterMark, in one sentence each.

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Whole house water filterA filter system installed where water enters a home (point of entry) so every tap, shower and appliance receives filtered water.
Point of entry (POE)Treatment at the main water line after the meter.
Point of use (POU)Treatment at one outlet, such as an under-sink kitchen filter.
Sediment filterA cartridge that traps particles such as rust, silt and sand.
MicronOne thousandth of a millimetre.

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