Understanding Perth’s Water
What’s Really Coming Through Your Taps?
Perth Water - Safe but not always ideal.
Perth’s drinking water is safe and treated to Australian standards. However, the unique water sources used in Western Australia mean many homes experience issues that whole-home filtration can help improve.
Perth’s drinking water is treated and regulated under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, ensuring it is safe for consumption.
However, safety standards focus primarily on health risks, not always on the taste, mineral content or aesthetic quality of water.
For this reason many homeowners choose filtration to improve:
• Taste and odour
• Chlorine exposure in showers
• Mineral scale build-up
• Overall water quality throughout the home
• small particles
Where Perth’s Water Comes From
According to the Water Corporation Website: Perth’s drinking water comes from four main sources: dams, desalination plants, groundwater treatment plants, and groundwater replenishment plants. These different sources help ensure a reliable water supply for Western Australia.
Dam Water (Surface Water)
Dams collect rainfall in catchment areas located in the Perth Hills. Water from these reservoirs is treated at water treatment plants to remove natural materials such as sediment and organic matter before entering the drinking water network.
Dam water is generally lower in minerals, but it can contain natural organic material from vegetation in the catchment area.
Perths dams include: Canning Dam, Churchman Brook Dam, North Dandalup Dam, South Dandalup Dam, Harding Dam, Harvey Dam, Mundaring Weir, Serpentine Dam, Serpentine Pipehead Dam, Victoria Dam, Wellington Dam, Wungong Dam.
Photo: Canning Dam
Desalination Plants
Desalination plants produce drinking water by removing salt and impurities from seawater using advanced reverse-osmosis membranes.
This process creates very clean water, which is then stabilised with small amounts of minerals before being supplied to homes.
Desalination is now one of Perth’s most reliable water sources because it does not depend on rainfall.
Perth’s 2 desalination plants are located in Kwinana and Binningup, with a 3rd being built in Alkimos with first water production planned for 2028.
Photo: Kwinana Desalination Plant
Groundwater Treatment Plants
Groundwater treatment plants extract water from underground aquifers beneath Perth.
This water has naturally filtered through layers of soil and rock over many years. Before entering the supply system, it is treated to remove impurities and ensure it meets drinking water standards.
Groundwater often contains higher levels of minerals, which can contribute to hard water in some areas.
Perths 6 Groundwater treatment plants are located in Neerabup, Wanneroo, Gwelup, Mirrabooka, Lexia and Jandakot.
Groundwater Replenishment Plants
Groundwater replenishment is an advanced water recycling process used in Western Australia.
Highly treated wastewater is purified to drinking-water standards and then injected deep underground into natural aquifers. This stored water can later be extracted and used as part of Perth’s drinking water supply.
This process helps secure Perth’s long-term water supply and reduce reliance on rainfall.
Perth’s first groundwater replenishment plant is located in Craigie.
Because of this blend, the mineral content and treatment process can affect how water tastes, smells and behaves in your home.
Common Characteristics of Perth Water
Chlorine
Chlorine is added to disinfect drinking water as it travels through the distribution system. While essential for safety, it can cause:
• Strong taste and smell
• Dry skin and hair
• Reduced taste quality for tea, coffee and cooking
Chlorine levels in Perth drinking water are allowed up to 5 mg/L, with taste often noticeable from around 0.7 mg/L.
Whole-home carbon filtration helps significantly reduce chlorine throughout the house.
Hard Water
Perth water is typically considered moderately hard to hard, with mineral levels commonly around 120–180 mg/L.
Hard water can cause:
• White scale build-up on taps and shower screens
• Reduced hot water system lifespan
• Scale inside kettles and dishwashers
• Soap and shampoo not lathering well
Anti-scale filtration helps reduce mineral deposits and protect appliances.
Sediment
Over time, small particles such as sand, rust or pipe debris can travel through the water distribution network.
These particles can cause:
• Cloudy water
• Blocked tap aerators
• Wear on plumbing fixtures
• Build-up inside appliances
A sediment filter captures these particles before they reach your plumbing.