Frequently Asked Questions and Glossary

How often do I need to change the water filters?

Water filters are rated by the filter manufacturer for a certain volume of water. Some are also rated for replacement after a period of time regardless of the amount of usage. The regularity of replacement is determined by the quality of the feedwater, water temperature, pressure and the type of filter installed. Generally in a commercial situation water filters should be replaced at least 6 monthly and in a domestic situation up to 12 monthly. If filters should block or if there is a return of tastes and odours then the filters should be replaced immediately. Water Plus records all installations on a database and customers are reminded when water filters are due for replacement.

I have heard that water filters grow bacteria. Is this harmful to me?

Water filters can have an elevated count of heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria in the filtered water. The bacteria can accumulate on the surface of the filters. HPC bacteria is found in every day foods, for example in bottled water, yogurt, chicken sandwiches just to name a few, and in the air we breath. A NSF International/World Health Organisation Symposium on HPC bacteria in drinking water in Geneva, Switzerland on 21-26 April 2002 concluded that there is no direct link between HPC and human health effects in the general population.

Is tap water no good for me?

Drinking water in general is good for health. You must decide whether the acceptable risks, as determined by public authorities, of adding chemicals to the water supply is also acceptable to you. Tap water is monitored by the local water authorities however in the end no one is taking final responsibility for the purity of your water. Tap water is of variable quality whereas filtered water is of controlled quality, provided the water filters are regularly maintained.

I have heard that the fluoride is good for my children's teeth. Will your water filters remove the fluoride?

Sediment and activated carbon filtration will not remove the fluoride from the water. Some people want the fluoride removed and this is usually achieved by water distillation or reverse osmosis filtration. Deionised resin (DI) can also be used to remove fluoride however Water Plus does not recommend DI filtration for drinking water applications.

What is there in the tap water that I need to be concerned about?

Most people are quite happy to drink tap water. Local water authorities monitor and test the water for known parameters that can cause health concerns in the general population. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines by the National Health and Medical Research Council set down guidelines or limits of contaminants that should not be exceeded in the water supply.

Sometimes the water authorities warn the general public to boil their drinking water. Will the water filters mean that I will not need to boil my water?

The last major concern was in Sydney when cryptosporidium was discovered in the water supply. Cryptosporidium can be removed by water filters which have a rating of 1 micron absolute. The cryptosporidium cysts are suspended in the filter media because they are larger than 1 micron (1,000 times smaller than a millimeter). If the boiling water alert was raised due to say sewerage contamination then water would still need to be boiled whether it had been filtered or not. The use of an in-line ultra-violet light (sterilizer) at the point-of-use will eliminate the need to boil the water.

The water authorities monitor the water but is there a chance that something can still slip through into my water supply?

The answer is yes however the water authorities regularly monitor the water in accordance with the drinking water guidelines.

Can the water pick up contaminants between the water distribution tank and my home?

Water pipes have been made of differing materials over the years and each has different corrosion problems. Shut off valves can rust and sediments suspended in the water supply can build up on the walls of the pipes. Electrolysis can occur between suspended particles and other metals causing corrosion. The water authorities regularly scour the pipes to remove the sediments and corrosion. Water pipes can sometimes burst and if the sewerage pipes nearby have been leaking then cross contamination may occur. Water authorities will increase the chemical chlorination of the water where appropriate to eliminate any harmful bacteria.