What is in Sydney's tap water, and which filter fixes what
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Philips On-Tap 3-stage X-Guard micro filtration AWP3703, 1000 L
Sydney's water is soft and mostly chlorinated; a simple carbon filter does the job.
$49.95 at Bunnings, checked 9 Nov 2026
Paid links: we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn't change which product is here.
Sydney's water is soft and mostly chlorinated, the easiest capital to filter. What Sydney Water puts in it, what to ignore, and the cheapest filters that do the job well.
Our picks at a glance
| Product | Taste, cheaplyPhilips On-Tap 3-stage X-Guard micro filtration AWP3703, 1000 L $49.95 at Bunnings | ShowerPhilips 3-stage shower filter, KDF and double mesh Price at the retailer | FluoridePhilips 75 GPD reverse osmosis tap water station with remineraliser $499 at Bunnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | — | — | — |
| Install | Screws onto the spout, no tools | — | Plumbed, licensed plumber |
| Why it's here | Sydney's water is soft and mostly chlorinated; a simple carbon filter does the job. | KDF handles Sydney's chlorine well. | WaterMark-listed reverse osmosis, so a licensed plumber can fit it. RO is the only common home method that removes fluoride. |
| Watch out for | No certification listing, so its claims are Philips' own | Cartridges need replacing every few months | A tank system, so it fills the cupboard and sends water to the drain like any tank RO |
| Buy | $49.95 at BunningsToday's price on Amazon (EU import) | Today's price on Amazon | Today's price on Amazon$499 at Bunnings |
Sydney's water is soft and mostly chlorinated; a simple carbon filter does the job.
Sydney's water is soft and mostly chlorinated; a simple carbon filter does the job.
Watch out: No certification listing, so its claims are Philips' own
- Install: Screws onto the spout, no tools
$49.95 at Bunnings · checked 9 Nov 2026
KDF handles Sydney's chlorine well.
KDF handles Sydney's chlorine well.
Watch out: Cartridges need replacing every few months
Price at the retailer
WaterMark-listed reverse osmosis, so a licensed plumber can fit it. RO is the only common home method that removes fluoride.
WaterMark-listed reverse osmosis, so a licensed plumber can fit it.
Watch out: A tank system, so it fills the cupboard and sends water to the drain like any tank RO
- Install: Plumbed, licensed plumber
$499 at Bunnings, checked 9 Nov 2026 · Amazon's price is on its page
How we picked: We picked these 3 from the water filters sold in Australia, judged on cartridge, install and price, using maker specs, Australian retailer prices and owner reports. We haven't tested them hands-on yet, and maker claims are labelled as theirs. Commission never puts a worse product ahead of a better one, but between equal products or shops, one that pays us can go first. Full method.
Sydney has some of the easiest tap water in Australia to filter: soft, mostly chlorinated, and treated to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines from Warragamba and the other dams via Sydney Water.
The three things that matter
Chlorine, mostly. The majority of the network uses chlorine, which every carbon filter removes easily. Some delivery systems use chloramine; if yours does, the chloramine guide applies. Sydney Water’s reports say which.
Soft water. Average hardness around 43 milligrams per litre. Softeners are unnecessary; scale is slow.
Fluoride. Present. Reverse osmosis if you want it out.
What to buy in Sydney
- Chlorine taste: the cheapest carbon option works, so start with the Philips on-tap filter or a water filter jug. Home owners who want it done properly: an under-sink unit.
- Shower: the Philips KDF filter, unless your zone is chloraminated.
- Fluoride: WaterMark-listed reverse osmosis, such as the Philips 75 GPD station. The cheapest online kits (Geekpure, iSpring) aren’t on the WaterMark register, so a licensed plumber can’t install them.
- Your own water: test your own tap water with hardness strips or a TDS meter before you buy. The test kit guide covers what a home kit can and can’t tell you, and when to use a NATA-accredited lab instead.
Sources: Sydney Water water quality reporting; Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC). Check your delivery system in Sydney Water’s current report.
Where to buy our picks
- Philips On-Tap 3-stage X-Guard micro filtration AWP3703, 1000 L$49.95 at Bunnings
- Philips 3-stage shower filter, KDF and double meshSee today's price on Amazon
- Philips 75 GPD reverse osmosis tap water station with remineraliserSee today's price on Amazon
Paid links: we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices change; the shop's page is the final word.
The picks in detail
Tap a pick for its full specs, pros and cons and every shop.
Taste, cheaplyPhilips On-Tap 3-stage X-Guard micro filtration AWP3703, 1000 L
$49.95 at Bunnings · checked 9 Nov 2026Specs, pros and cons, all 2 shops
Sydney's water is soft and mostly chlorinated; a simple carbon filter does the job.
- Fits: Most standard round kitchen spouts, with adapters in the box (Philips); not pull-out or square spouts
- Flow rate: 2 L/min at 150 to 350 kPa (Philips spec sheet)
- Cartridge life: 1,000 L in the box. Philips names the AWP305 refill (1,000 L) for this unit; Bunnings sells the AWP315 (1,200 L), which Philips sells "for Philips on-tap solutions"
- Yearly running cost: About $50 at 2 L a day: one AWP315 refill, $49.95 at Bunnings (22 Oct 2026)
- Certification: None found on NSF, IAPMO or WQA listings (21 Oct 2026); the chlorine claim is Philips' own
- WaterMark: Not needed: screws onto the tap spout
- Install: Screws onto the spout, no tools
Pros
- $49.95 at Bunnings on 22 Oct 2026, and the biggest refill of the on-tap units we compared (AWP315, rated 1,200 L)
- The biggest refill here: the AWP315 is rated 1,200 L
- Filtered, unfiltered and shower-spray modes, and a change reminder
Cons
- No certification listing, so its claims are Philips' own
- Philips names the AWP305 refill for this unit, but only the AWP315 was on sale in Australia when we checked (22 Oct 2026)
- Does not fit pull-out or square spouts
Paid links: we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Price checked 9 Nov 2026.
ShowerPhilips 3-stage shower filter, KDF and double mesh
See retailer · checked 9 Nov 2026Specs, pros and cons and where to buy
KDF handles Sydney's chlorine well.
- Media: KDF plus mesh stages
- Fits: Standard shower arm thread
- Reduces: Chlorine (manufacturer claim)
- Cartridge life: 4-6 months or 50,000 L (Philips claim)
Pros
- Sold and shipped by Amazon Australia
- KDF is the media with real evidence for chlorine reduction
- Fits before your existing shower head
Cons
- Cartridges need replacing every few months
- Slight reduction in flow
Paid links: we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Price checked 9 Nov 2026.
FluoridePhilips 75 GPD reverse osmosis tap water station with remineraliser
$499 at Bunnings · checked 9 Nov 2026Specs, pros and cons, all 2 shops
WaterMark-listed reverse osmosis, so a licensed plumber can fit it. RO is the only common home method that removes fluoride.
- Output: 75 GPD
- Remineraliser: Yes
- Install: Plumbed, licensed plumber
- Certification: WaterMark, licence 060214
- WaterMark: Yes, licence 060214
- Yearly running cost: About $215 to $335 at Philips RRP (AUT515, AUT514, AUT521 sets)
Pros
- RO with remineralisation from a brand you can buy in-store
- Bunnings warranty and returns
Cons
- A tank system, so it fills the cupboard and sends water to the drain like any tank RO
Paid links: we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Price checked 9 Nov 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sydney water hard or soft?
Soft. Sydney Water's supply averages around 40 to 45 milligrams per litre of hardness, with the hardest zones under 60. Scale on kettles is a minor issue in Sydney.
Does Sydney use chlorine or chloramine?
Mostly chlorine, with chloramine used in some parts of the network. Sydney Water publishes the disinfectant by delivery system in its water quality reports; most of the metropolitan area is straightforward chlorine, which standard filters handle well.
Is Sydney water fluoridated?
Yes, and has been for decades. Carbon filters leave fluoride in; reverse osmosis removes most of it.