Perth Water Quality
What Affects Perth’s Drinking Water Safety
Perth’s water is safe at the source, but issues like lead, PFAS, microplastics, and ageing pipes can affect quality. Discover risks and solutions to ensure cleaner, healthier water at home.
Lead
PFAS
Microplastics
Fluoride
Understanding Perth’s Hidden Water Contaminants
Lead typically isn’t present in Perth’s mains water when it leaves the treatment plant. However, it can leach into drinking water from older plumbing systems, particularly those with brass fittings or pipes installed before 1989. In 2018, lead was detected in the drinking water of several WA schools, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with ageing infrastructure.
One of the key issues is how chlorine, used to disinfect our mains water, interacts with brass components that contain lead. Brass naturally forms an oxide layer that helps prevent corrosion. However, chlorine can break down this protective layer over time, exposing lead within the brass to water. This degradation process increases the risk of lead leaching into your drinking water, especially when water sits stagnant in pipes overnight.
This is one of the reasons why Australia is moving toward lead-free plumbing regulations, with a national requirement that all products in contact with drinking water must meet strict low-lead content standards by May 2026.
To reduce exposure in your home, on-demand reverse osmosis systems are highly effective at removing lead to safe levels. Cartridge-less filtration systems also offer meaningful lead reduction due to extended carbon contact time. Cartridge systems, while more basic, can still assist when equipped with quality sediment and carbon filters.
Source: WA Health – Lead in Drinking Water Advisory (2018); Australian Building Codes Board – LeadFree Plumbing Reforms
Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments less than 5mm in size, found in waterways across Australia. They’re not fully removed in conventional water treatment and can come from breakdowns of synthetic fabrics, packaging, or even stormwater runoff.
On-demand reverse osmosis offers the highest level of protection, physically filtering microplastics out through its membrane. Our cartridge-less systems also capture larger fragments through multi-stage carbon media, while cartridge systems offer limited filtration due to shorter contact time and smaller media volume.
You may have noticed extensive works across Perth suburbs in recent years, where ageing water mains have been replaced or upgraded by Water Corporation. These upgrades aim to reduce pipe bursts, stabilise water pressure, and improve delivery reliability for thousands of homes.
During repairs or replacements, there is potential for dirt, debris, or microbial contaminants to enter the system. Even after the works are complete, internal pipe degradation — including rust, sediment, and scale — can still travel through the mains until it reaches your home.
While Perth’s water is still considered safe point-of-entry systems like cartridge-less filtration or on-demand reverse osmosis are critical if you’re serious about clean, reduced contaminant water throughout your home. These systems provide the final barrier — filtering out what the infrastructure can’t.
Source: Water Corporation WA – Mains Replacement Program
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals often found in fire retardants and industrial runoff. A high-profile case in WA was the contamination in Bullsbrook, linked to firefighting foam used at the RAAF base — leaving locals with PFAS in their bore water and increased health concerns.
Source: WA Department of Health – PFAS Contamination at RAAF Base Pearce, Bullsbrook
PFAS are not effectively removed by standard filters. That’s why reverse osmosis are ideal. They use membrane technology to reduce PFAS effectively, offering better peace of mind for Perth households.
In Perth, Water Corporation adds fluoride to mains water as a public health measure aimed at reducing tooth decay. This practice has been in place for decades and is supported by many dental associations. However, it remains a controversial topic, with growing public interest in alternative viewpoints.
Notably, countries like Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and most of Europe do not fluoridate their water. Their reasons vary, but commonly include concerns about individual consent, the ethics of mass medication, availability of fluoride in other sources (like toothpaste), and a preference for dietary and topical approaches to dental health.
While fluoride may have benefits, some people prefer to remove it from their drinking water for personal or health-related reasons — especially for young children, those with thyroid conditions, or individuals pursuing a more natural lifestyle.
Standard filters won’t remove fluoride. Only reverse osmosis systems are effective, making our on-demand reverse osmosis units the ideal solution for Perth residents seeking greater control over what’s in their water. These systems significantly reduce fluoride content while maintaining convenience and taste.
Source: Water Corporation WA – Drinking Water Quality Report; World Health Organization; National Academies of Sciences (US)
We noticed an immediate difference in the taste and smell. The whole process was smooth and well-organised, and it’s reassuring to know we’re using a system that will protect our home and appliances for years.
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