If you’ve been researching whole-home filtration in Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River or Augusta, you’ve probably seen claims like “removes 99% of contaminants” or “filters everything harmful.” But what does a whole-house filter actually remove — and what does it not remove?
At Water Wellness – water that loves you back, we like to give clear, realistic expectations so homeowners understand exactly what their system can do. This guide breaks down every filter stage, what it catches, what it can’t remove, and when you might want to pair it with an under-sink RO system for drinking water.
The Three Stages of a Whole-Home System
Most whole-home systems in the South West follow this setup:
- Sediment pre-filter
- Activated carbon filter
- Specialty cartridge (metal reduction, scale control, or advanced carbon block)
Together, they treat all incoming water — shower, laundry, kitchen and outdoor (if connected).
Let’s break down what each stage removes.
Stage 1: Sediment Filter — What It Removes
This filter captures physical particles that wash in from pipes, groundwater, or older plumbing systems.
It removes:
- Sand
- Rust flakes
- Silt and turbidity
- Dirt and clay
- Roofing debris (for homes mixing tank and mains water)
- Pipe scale
This stage protects your carbon filter so it can work efficiently.
You’ll notice:
- Cleaner tap aerators
- Fewer particles in kettle water
- Less “cloudiness” in the bath after filling
This stage does not remove chemicals, chlorine, or dissolved minerals — that comes later.
Stage 2: Carbon Filter — The Workhorse
Activated carbon is one of the most powerful filtration medias for household water. It works through adsorption, trapping contaminants onto the carbon surface as water passes through.
It removes or significantly reduces:
- Chlorine (major source of taste/odour issues in Bunbury & Busselton)
- Chloramine (in some WA supplies)
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Pesticides & herbicides
- Industrial chemicals
- Trihalomethanes (THMs)
- Microplastics
- Bad tastes and odours
This is the stage where your shower suddenly smells better and your water stops tasting like a swimming pool.
What it does not remove:
- Fluoride
- Dissolved salts or minerals
- Hardness (calcium/magnesium)
- Nitrates
- PFAS (unless you use a specialised carbon block designed for it)
If you want fluoride or dissolved solids removed, that’s where reverse osmosis (RO) comes in for drinking water.
Stage 3: Specialty Cartridge — Targeted Filtration
This cartridge varies depending on water conditions and homeowner goals.
Options include:
Heavy Metal Reduction Cartridge
Removes:
- Lead
- Copper
- Mercury
- Arsenic (some forms)
- Nickel
Especially helpful for older plumbing or tank-to-mains blended households.
Scale Control Cartridge
Does not remove calcium or magnesium — instead it changes their structure so they don’t stick to surfaces.
This:
- Reduces limescale
- Protects appliances
- Makes soap lather better
- Lessens spotting on glass
Advanced Carbon Block
Targets:
- PFAS
- PFOA/PFOS
- Pharmaceuticals
- Hormone residues
- Disinfection by-products
This is becoming increasingly popular across Australia due to rising PFAS awareness.
What a Whole-House Filter Does Not Remove
Even a premium system has limitations — and it’s better to know them.
It does not remove:
- Fluoride (requires RO)
- Dissolved salts/minerals
- Hardness (only softened, not removed)
- Viruses (requires UV sterilisation or RO)
- Bacteria (requires UV for tank water)
- Nitrates/Nitrites (requires RO)
- Total dissolved solids (TDS)
This is why many homeowners use a whole-home system + RO tap combo.
Why It Still Makes a Massive Difference
Even with those limitations, a whole-home filtration system transforms daily living:
- Showers feel softer
- Skin irritation reduces
- Water tastes cleaner
- Laundry smells fresher
- Chlorine is dramatically reduced
For most households, a whole-house filter solves 80–90% of the problems they notice day-to-day.
Example: Bunbury & Busselton Water
Bunbury and Busselton rely heavily on groundwater. That means:
- Higher hardness
- More chlorine
- More sediment
- Occasional metallic taste
A whole-home filter removes almost all of these issues.
Margaret River and Augusta, with tank/mains blends, benefit even more — especially when combined with UV sterilisation.
When to Add an RO System
If you want:
- Fluoride removed
- PFAS/pesticide removal at drinking level
- The purest taste possible
- TDS under 20 ppm
- Better coffee and tea
- Baby-safe water
An under-sink RO is the perfect add-on.
We install RO systems under the kitchen sink while letting the whole-home system handle showers, bathrooms and laundry.
FAQs for South West Homeowners
Does a whole-home filter reduce fluoride?
No — fluoride passes through. Use RO for fluoride removal.
Will it affect water pressure?
A properly sized system will not noticeably reduce pressure.
Do I need UV?
Only if you use rainwater tanks or mix tanks with mains (common in Margaret River and Augusta).
How long do cartridges last?
Typically 12 months for whole-home filters; specialty cartridges may last longer.
The Takeaway
A whole-house filtration system removes a huge range of chemicals, sediments, odours, chlorine, metals and microparticles, making your water dramatically cleaner and more enjoyable.
For ultra-pure drinking water — fluoride, PFAS, TDS — add RO under the sink.
Across Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River and Augusta, Water Wellness installs tailored systems so you can enjoy water that loves you back every day.
