Water quality across the Australian Capital Territory

The ACT draws source water from four main dams across the Cotter and Queanbeyan catchments, with support from the Murrumbidgee River during dry spells. Water quality in the mountains can fluctuate significantly after heavy rain or bushfires, requiring treatment changes before the water enters the network. 

To keep water sterile across the territory’s distribution grid, treatment relies on chlorine disinfection rather than chloramination. While effective at killing bacteria, maintaining this residual across long pipelines leaves mains water with noticeable smells and tastes, and can dry out your hair and skin. 


Woman drinking from a water bottle while sitting next to a dog
  • Canberra

    Canberra's water comes from four dams, and catchment conditions after heavy rain or bushfires can affect taste and smell. Explore whole home filtration in Canberra.

Canberra water quality

Canberra’s supply shifts between the Corin, Bendora, Cotter and Googong dams. As catchment conditions change, especially after rain or bushfires, treatment plants scale up chemical dosing to maintain safety across the grid. 

Because the network relies strictly on chlorine disinfection rather than chloramination, the water reaching your household taps often carries higher residual disinfectant levels. This can cause chemical smells and tastes and dry out your skin and hair. 

A shot of the driveway leading up to Parliament House in Canberra.

Don’t see your area?

Not seeing your city listed doesn’t mean we can’t help! Contact Complete Home Filtration to find out whether our whole home water filtration services are available in your area and discuss your water filtration needs with our team. 

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Person filling up water bottle from the tap.

Whole Home Water Filtration Whole Home Water Filtration: Premium whole home filtration, made for Australia

Complete Home Filtration’s whole home water filtration system is perfectly designed to handle the unique water needs of Australian households, eliminating the need for other water filters.


  • Taste and smell

    Filtering your water removes residual chlorine and organic compounds, delivering clear, fresh-tasting water directly from your taps.

  • Home and plumbing protection

    Catching pipe sediment before it enters your home protects your taps, prevents scale buildup on your appliances, and extends the lifespan of your hot water unit.

  • Environmental impact

    Filtration reduces reliance on single-use bottled water and reduces the need for harsh chemicals to scrub away disinfectant residue and water spots.

  • Softer skin and hair

    Removing chlorine from your water stops it from stripping your skin’s natural oils during baths and showers, helping to prevent skin dryness and scalp irritation.

  • A solution for every home

    Whole-home water filtration system unit

    Whole home filtration

    Upgrade every tap with a Complete Home Filtration whole home system. Treating all water at entry, our tailored systems deliver cleaner, better quality water for drinking, cooking and bathing, providing consistent, reliable filtration without relying on point-of-use filters or bottled water.

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    Reverse osmosis water filtration system.

    Reverse osmosis systems

    Complete Home Filtration Reverse Osmosis filtration systems combine multi-stage carbon and sediment filtration with an ultra-fine, semipermeable membrane to reduce dissolved salts, heavy metals, fluoride, pharmaceuticals and other contaminants that can pass through broader water filtration systems.

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    Rainwater water filtration system

    Rainwater filtration

    Rainwater filtration systems are designed to handle the unique challenges of tank water. High-capacity sediment filtration combined with UV disinfection helps deliver fresh, natural rainwater with the safety and consistency you expect for everyday use.

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    The best filtration system is one that suits your water, your home and your family. A free in-home water assessment allows us to test your water supply, understand your home’s requirements and design the right solution from the start.
    Discover the right solution for your home

    Service coverage across the Australian Capital Territory

    While public water supplies managed by Icon Water operate under health standards overseen by the ACT Health Directorate, what actually reaches your household tap is shaped by alpine catchment dynamics and distribution network management. 

    To deliver drinking water safely across Canberra's sprawling suburbs and varying elevations, treatment plants rely on primary UV disinfection combined with continuous free chlorine dosing. As heavy rainfall or bushfire recovery in these areas changes the water quality and organic load, chemical treatment levels adapt to maintain sterility, leaving mains water with persistent chemical smells, seasonal earthy tastes and a harsh effect on skin and hair during hot showers.

    Because Canberra’s water is naturally soft, hard-water scaling isn’t a major concern in the territory. Instead, over 90% of our local customers opt for a whole home setup at the mains, targeting incoming water right at the point of entry to intercept residual disinfectants, capture fine sediment and eliminate any chemical smells before water reaches your taps. 

    We don't just drop a box on your doorstep and leave you to it; our local team will assess your water supply, install and fine-tune the setup for your home, and stand by for ongoing filter maintenance so you never even have to think about it.

    Multiple WaterMark-certified water filters

    Installation in Australian Capital Territory

    Getting started is simple. Contact our local ACT team to discuss your home, your water setup and your specific filtration goals.

    We’ll arrange for a qualified technician to review your property’s plumbing and water pressure dynamics before recommending a tailored filtration setup for your home.

    Once selected, your system is installed by an experienced, licensed local plumber, backed by ongoing filter maintenance support so you never have to worry about your water quality.

    Whole-home water filtration system installed in a front yard

    What our customers are saying

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    Australian families across the country trust Complete Home Filtration to deliver reliable systems and outstanding service, and their reviews reflect that commitment.

    Frequently asked questions

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