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Melbourne VIC · water quality

Is Melbourne tap water safe to drink?

Yes. Melbourne's tap water meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and is among the softest in Australia, so scale is rarely a problem. What most people notice is chlorine taste and smell, especially in a hot shower. Whole Home Water isn't booking in Melbourne yet, but you can join the list for a free test.

Supplied by Melbourne Water and your retailer · last reviewed 1 October 2026

Melbourne typical ranges
Hardness
Taste guideline 200 mg/L
8–29mg/L
Dissolved solids
Taste guideline 600 mg/L
30–80mg/L
Chlorine (typical)
Most people taste it above ~0.6 mg/L
0.57mg/L

Source: Melbourne Water and your retailer drinking water quality reporting.

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Where Melbourne's water comes from

Mostly protected forest catchments, topped up by the Victorian Desalination Plant.

Disinfectant

Chlorine. Many people taste or smell chlorine above about 0.6 mg/L, and hot showers release it into the steam you breathe.

What we recommend in Melbourne

Whole Home, with the carbon + mineral kitchen stage. Melbourne's soft water doesn't need reverse osmosis. Book a free water test.

Melbourne water questions

Is Melbourne tap water safe to drink?

Yes. Melbourne's tap water meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and is among the softest in Australia, so scale is rarely a problem. What most people notice is chlorine taste and smell, especially in a hot shower. Whole Home Water isn't booking in Melbourne yet, but you can join the list for a free test.

Is Melbourne water hard?

Melbourne water typically measures 8–29 mg/L hardness as calcium carbonate. Above about 60 mg/L water is moderately hard and leaves scale; the aesthetic guideline is 200 mg/L.

Is there PFAS in Melbourne water?

Melbourne's retailers publish PFAS monitoring in their annual water quality reports.

What water filter is best for Melbourne?

Whole Home, with the carbon + mineral kitchen stage. Melbourne's soft water doesn't need reverse osmosis.

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