Why you might want to improve the quality of your drinking water

In Australia, most municipal (tap) water is sourced from surface water, such as dams, rivers, and catchment areas. It is then treated by wastewater treatment plants before it reaches your tap. While this process makes water safe to drink from a public health perspective, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ideal for optimal long-term health.

These water sources can still be exposed to contaminants including pesticides, microplastics, contaminated stormwater runoff, bacteria, organic compounds, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and even leaching from aging pipelines.

Because of these potential contaminants, water suppliers are required to perform multiple stages of purification to meet Australian Standards. One of the final steps in Australia involves chlorination (to kill bacteria and parasites) and sometimes fluoride dosing.

While both are considered safe at the levels used under Australian Standards from a single dose perspective, they are still toxic compounds at higher or cumulative exposures. And since most of us drink between 1–3 litres of water daily, that adds up to a lot of potential contact with low level toxins over years.

For me personally, my health is a priority, and water is something I consume every single day. So, improving my drinking water quality felt like a simple but meaningful way to reduce my overall toxin load. Below are a few practical ways to improve the quality of your home drinking water.

Option 1: Boxed or bottled spring water (an easy short-term method)

Spring water is naturally high in beneficial minerals from traveling through rock and sediment. However, not all bottled waters are created equal.

Look for:

• Genuine spring sources (clearly labelled on packaging)

• Transparent quality testing and compliance with Australian Standards

• Packaging that avoids plastic when possible.

  
  

That said, spring water can be expensive over time and sometimes undergoes additional treatment that removes those beneficial minerals. There’s also a small risk of contamination if the groundwater source isn’t pristine. So, while it’s a good short-term alternative to tap water, it may not be the most sustainable option long-term, unless you are aware of pristine spring where you can source your water.

Option 2: Home filtration systems (higher upfront cost, long-term benefit)

Home filtration offers the best balance between additional water treatment, and cost effectiveness over time. There are a few options to consider:

🔹 Reverse Osmosis (RO)

RO is considered the gold standard for home water purification. It’s highly effective at removing contaminants. Including chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, and microplastics but it also strips everything, including beneficial minerals. If your RO unit doesn’t have a remineralisation stage, you can easily add back trace minerals using mineral drops (usually from ocean evaporation, humic/fulvic acids) or a pinch of high quality salt that’s been third party tested.

🔹 Multi-stage benchtop filters

This is the system I personally use. Mine features a 10-stage filtration process that mimics natural purification, ending with two types of stones. One for remineralisation and another with antibacterial properties. After more than a year of daily use it has stayed in pristine condition, there’s been no build up of bacteria/slim or odour (in the treated water tank), which I think speaks volumes about its water treatment efficiency. I highly recommend choosing a benchtop filter that’s lab tested and includes a multistage filtration process.

🔹 Ceramic benchtop filters

A more affordable option, often only using a ceramic “candle” filter with activated carbon (can even be found at Bunnings). These are decent entry level filters but may need frequent cleaning as bacteria can build up inside the tank. In my experience, I had to clean mine every 1–2 weeks due to the bottom of the tank getting slimy, which made me upgrade.

🔹 Jug style filters

These are simple and accessible but often provide limited filtration compared to other systems. I haven’t personally trialled them, so I can’t speak from experience, but they can be a starting point if you’re new to filtered water.

Option 3: Hydrogen water (an exciting area of emerging research)

A growing body of research has explored hydrogen rich water, which is water infused with molecular hydrogen (H₂). Studies suggest it may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and support cellular health, energy, and cardiovascular function.

There are now hydrogen generating bottles that use electrolysis to infuse water with molecular hydrogen. Some also include basic purification. I’ve trialled one and noticed improved physical performance, though placebo can’t be ruled out. While hydrogen water is still a relatively new field, it’s certainly a promising addition to the conversation around water quality and human health.

🌿 Final Thoughts

Clean water is one of the most fundamental aspects of good health. Considering how much we rely on it daily, investing in higher quality drinking water is one of the simplest yet most impactful changes you can make. I hope this post encourages you to explore your options and think about what’s flowing from your tap. If you have questions about filtration systems, remineralisation, or hydrogen water, feel free to reach out.