Do you live in Brighton or Glenelg? Have you noticed the tap water tasting bad lately? In South Australia, there have been reports of water tasting “like dirt”, to the point that it’s hit the media in recent times. We know this type of mains water contamination is commonly experienced in areas where there are a lot of roadworks and construction projects underway. So, what can we do about it?

While our water authorities do a good job of ensuring water is safe for drinking, it can be contaminated on the way. During periods of roadworks, civic infrastructure maintenance and construction, sediment can contaminate our water supply, which can lead to unpleasant tastes and odours. Reports in the media recently describe bayside area water as tasting “dirt-like.” This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors associated with construction and roadworks.

So how does our water get contaminated?

Repairs to aging pipework networks can be a source of sediment ingress which can be unavoidable when repairs are carried out.

Vibration from construction can also increase contamination from within the pipes themselves. Over years, sediment can accumulate and settle within pipes without contaminating water flowing through the waterway. Vibration from roadworks and construction can disturb this settled sediment in pipes, which is then carried through to taps and water outlets.

South Australia, like other areas with hard mains water supply, is susceptible to mineral scale buildup. Vibration from machinery can lead to mineral scale buildup being loosened and dislodged within pipes.

How do we protect from contamination in our home?

By filtering mains water at point-of-use, we can ensure the water we use in our home is safe for consumption and use, and taste great.

To filter sediment from mains supply pipework contamination, a simple undersink water filter system will significantly improve taste and odour in drinking water. Freshwater Systems have economical twin-filter systems for single outlet or whole-house filtration (otherwise known as complete home filtration).

To reduce hardness and scale in water, we also have a range of water softeners that work by ion exchange.

Worried about heavy metals, chemicals, fluoride and excess minerals? Reverse osmosis is the only way to remove complex contaminants, bacteria, as well as mineral hardness out of drinking water. Systems are available to remineralise at optimal levels, or to alkalinise water.

Further information

We often hear that the options are overwhelming and it’s hard to find complete and honest advice for water filtration selection. We have a number of resources available to help you make decisions on what water filtration will suit your needs. See the links below, or feel free to call us for a chat.

• What to Look For in a Water System
• Choosing a Water Filter
• Pros and Cons of Types of Water Filtration System
• Filtration Types and What They Filter
• Summary Cheat-Sheet of Water Filtration Types
• Reverse Osmosis vs Filtration