What type of water filter do I need?
A straightforward guide for local homeowners
When it comes to water quality on the Bass Coast, most households fit into two camps:
Homes on mains water, dealing with ageing pipes, sediment, and that familiar chlorine taste and smell.
Homes on rainwater, where the challenge is biological contaminants from roofs, tanks, and the environment.
We install filtration systems every week around Inverloch, Wonthaggi, Cape Paterson, and the surrounding areas. The technology isn’t new, but the amount of confusion (and misinformation) out there is massive. This is a simple guide to what actually works here locally.
1. Dual-Housing Filtration for Mains Water
For homes on town water, the most common system we install is a dual-stage filtration unit. It’s simple, reliable, and effective.
Stage 1: Pleated sediment filter
This picks up the fine grit and rust flakes that still make their way through ageing water authority mains. People are often surprised by how much sediment these filters catch.
Stage 2: Carbon filter
This deals with taste and odour. Around here the big complaint is chlorine. The carbon stage puts an end to that.
We size the system to suit the home:
Smaller units for 1 to 3-person households
Larger units for families with higher flow demand
Installation is usually quite straightforward, and maintenance is simple.
And no, we don’t normally use UV on mains water. Mains water is already treated, so UV is usually unnecessary.
2. UV Filtration for Rainwater Homes
If you’re drinking rainwater, UV becomes a different story.
It’s the right tool for:
Bird droppings on the roof
Organic material washed into the tank
The odd creature that unfortunately ends up inside
General biological contamination
UV isn’t complicated, but there are rules:
Rule 1: You must pre-filter properly
Before water reaches the UV chamber, it needs to pass through a very fine filter.
An easy way to explain it is this:
We’re trying to remove the little “critters” and cysts (remember sea monkeys). If they aren’t filtered out first, they can actually shadow the water and block the UV light from doing its job.
Rule 2: You must keep flow within the UV’s limits
Just because the pump can push water fast doesn’t mean it should.
UV treatment needs time.
Water has to sit in the chamber long enough for the UV to penetrate and sanitise properly. Every UV unit has a recommended maximum flow. Exceed it, and the system simply won’t treat effectively.
Get these two things right, and UV is extremely reliable.
3. Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis (RO)
We’re in an interesting spot on the Bass Coast. The big desalination plant down the road is famous across Victoria. But you can basically put a mini version under your kitchen sink.
RO systems are powerful.
They remove almost everything.
You could pour a can of Coke in one end and get clean water out the other.
But there’s a catch.
RO strips out the good and the bad.
That’s why it’s essential that every RO system has a remineralising cartridge installed afterwards. Without it, the water can be too “empty,” and drinking demineralised water long-term isn’t great for your health.
Used properly, a small RO system can give you bottled-water quality straight from the tap, whether you’re on mains or rainwater.
A Word About Online Bargains and Door-to-Door Sellers
Filtration is a bit of a new frontier, and like any new frontier, a few snake-oil salespeople are floating around.
We’re seeing:
Cheap online units that don’t meet Australian standards
Systems claiming certification that simply isn’t real
Pushy sales reps going door to door selling overpriced, poorly installed products
It’s your water. Your family drinks it.
Go with a local company that actually understands the Bass Coast’s water conditions and isn’t treating you like a tick-and-flick job.
We only install quality, compliant systems that are safe, properly sized, and suitable for our local conditions.
Need a Hand?
Whether you’re on mains water in Inverloch or relying on rainwater out the back of Cape Paterson, we can help you work out the right setup. No pressure, no gimmicks, just practical advice and solid products.
All Done Plumbing – Inverloch
Your local filtration and water quality specialists.