Introducing the FilterWall™ Series

Chlorine keeps our Hunter and Central Coast water safe by forming HOCl and OCl⁻, which destroy bacteria, viruses, and some cysts. But that same reaction also produces chemical by-products that can affect us.

Typical residuals

• Chlorine – Hunter 1.57 mg/L | Central 1.39 mg/L
• THMs – Hunter 0.164 mg/L | Central 0.126 mg/L

Beyond the pipes, how it reaches you:

• Skin & hair (showers): HOCl absorbed → dry, irritated skin; frizzy/brittle hair
• Inhalation (steam): Chloroform & THMs released → asthma flare-ups, respiratory irritation
• Long-term intake: Continuous THMs → elevated liver, kidney, and developmental risks

Chlorine protects the water on its way to your tap, but its by-products don’t stop at taste and odour, they can reach your skin, your lungs, and your long-term health.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimetres in size. Nano plastics, even smaller, are invisible to the naked eye, often measuring less than 0.001 mm. These particles come from bottled water, degraded plastic pipes, synthetic clothing, and industrial waste, and are now commonly found in tap water around the world.
A 2023 study found an average of over 240,000 microplastic particles per litre in bottled water, raising serious concerns about their long-term impact on health.
These particles can absorb and carry toxic chemicals like PFAS, pesticides, and heavy metals, acting as delivery vehicles for contaminants once inside the body.
Potential health impacts include:

• Chronic inflammation
• Endocrine (hormonal) disruption
• Gut microbiome imbalance, which can affect immunity and digestion

Environmental impact:

These particles don’t just pollute water. They’re in our air, soil and oceans; accumulating in marine life, moving up the food chain and increasingly, inside us.

While water leaving treatment plants may meet safety standards, aging infrastructure and household plumbing can reintroduce contaminants on the way to your tap.
Older pipes, fittings, and catchment runoff can introduce heavy metals like lead, copper, and arsenic into your drinking water, especially in homes with plumbing installed before 1989.
These metals can accumulate over time and are associated with risks to:

• Brain and nervous system (particularly in children)
• Kidney and liver health
• Developmental and behavioural issues

Corroded or galvanised pipes, lead solder, and brass fittings in older homes and street mains can all leach metals, especially when water sits overnight or is acidic.
Water may be clean at the dam, but contamination can occur between the treatment plant and your tap.

Hard water contains high levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium, picked up as water passes through rock and soil. It’s not a health hazard, but it can cause long-term damage to your home and discomfort to your skin and hair.

Appliance & Plumbing Impact:

• Scale buildup in pipes, hot water systems, kettles, and dishwashers
• Reduced efficiency and lifespan of water heaters
• Clogged showerheads and stained fixtures

Skin & Hair Effects:

• Soap doesn’t lather or rinse properly
• Residue can leave skin feeling dry and hair dull or brittle
• Can worsen eczema or dry skin conditions

Although it may add beneficial minerals to your drinking water, hard water’s impact on your comfort and plumbing can be costly over time.
A whole-home water softening or conditioning system can protect your household and restore that fresh, clean feel.

Chlorine treatment in our town water supplies is highly effective at destroying most disease-causing microbes such as E. coli, Salmonella, Giardia cysts, and common water-borne viruses. Recent isolated outbreaks have been traced to failures in untreated or non-potable sources rather than the reticulated mains.

• Town water safety – Continuous chlorination keeps bacteria & viruses below detectable levels.
• Cysts & spores – Giardia and similar organisms are generally inactivated when correct chlorine “CT” (dose × time) is maintained.
• Where problems arise – Rain-water tanks, rural bores, and stagnant plumbing that lack disinfection are far more prone to microbial growth and are the usual culprits in reported cases.

Public mains are rigorously monitored, but if you rely on rainwater or other non-potable supplies, regular testing and point-of-use treatment are essential to prevent gastrointestinal illness.