Why Does My Tap Water Taste Like Chlorine — and How Do I Get Rid of It?

Your tap water tastes like chlorine because your water authority adds chlorine (or chloramine) to disinfect the supply. It’s completely normal and a sign the water has been treated to be safe. The easiest way to remove the chlorine taste is to filter the water through activated carbon, which adsorbs chlorine on contact and leaves water tasting clean and crisp.

Why is there chlorine in my tap water?

Chlorine is the most common disinfectant used to keep drinking water free of bacteria as it travels through kilometres of pipes. Some areas use chloramine (chlorine combined with ammonia) for longer-lasting disinfection. Both do an important safety job — but both leave a taste and smell.

Why does the chlorine taste get stronger sometimes?

• Mains maintenance: Utilities often boost chlorine after pipe work.
• Warmer weather: Higher temperatures can increase dosing.
• Your location in the network: Homes closer to the treatment plant sometimes notice it more.

How to remove the chlorine taste from tap water

1. Activated-carbon filter (best): Removes chlorine taste and odour instantly as you pour. A tap-mounted carbon filter is the most convenient option.
2. Let it sit / chill it: Leaving water in an open jug in the fridge lets some chlorine dissipate — slow, and it doesn’t work for chloramine.
3. Filter jug: Helps, but is slow and needs frequent cartridge changes.

If you want the chlorine taste gone for good without thinking about it, a tap-mounted carbon filter is the simplest fix. See PureFlow →

Frequently asked questions

Is chlorine in tap water bad for you?
At the low levels used to treat Australian drinking water, chlorine is considered safe. Most people filter it for taste and smell rather than safety.

Does boiling remove chlorine?
Boiling removes some free chlorine but not chloramine, and it won’t remove sediment or metals. Carbon filtration is faster and more thorough.

How Often Should You Replace Your Water Filter Cartridge?

As a rule of thumb, replace a tap-mounted carbon water filter cartridge about every six months. The exact timing depends on how much water you use and your local water quality, but six months keeps the carbon working effectively for most households. Leaving a cartridge in too long means it stops filtering well and can harbour bacteria.

What affects how long a cartridge lasts?

• Water usage: A large household using filtered water for drinking and cooking will use up a cartridge faster.
• Water quality: More sediment or chlorine means the carbon works harder.
• What you filter: Using filtered mode only for drinking and cooking (and unfiltered for washing up) makes a cartridge last longer.

Signs it’s time to change your cartridge

1. The chlorine taste or smell starts coming back.
2. Water flow slows down noticeably.
3. It’s been around six months since the last change.

What happens if you don’t replace it?

An old cartridge stops adsorbing contaminants effectively, so you’re essentially drinking unfiltered water — and a saturated, damp filter can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Replacing on schedule is the single most important thing for clean, great-tasting filtered water.

Never run out: subscribe

The easiest way to stay on top of replacements is a subscription that delivers fresh cartridges automatically every six months. With PureFlow you get the filter free and cartridges arrive right when you need them. See subscription plans →

Frequently asked questions

Can I clean and reuse a carbon cartridge?
No — once the activated carbon is saturated it can’t be “washed out.” Cartridges are designed to be replaced.

How do I make my cartridge last longer?
Switch to unfiltered mode for dishes and rinsing, and only use filtered water for drinking and cooking.

Tap vs Bottled vs Filter Jug vs Tap-Mounted Filter: Which Is Best?

For clean, great-tasting water at the lowest cost and least waste, a tap-mounted carbon filter wins. Bottled water tastes clean but is by far the most expensive and creates plastic waste; filter jugs are cheap to buy but slow and fiddly; plain tap water is cheapest but keeps the chlorine taste. Here’s the full comparison.

Cost per litre (the big difference)

• Unfiltered tap: ~0.3c per litre — cheapest, but chlorine taste remains.
• Tap-mounted filter: ~3–5c per litre — filtered on demand, minimal waste.
• Filter jug: ~10–15c per litre — slower, frequent cartridge changes.
• Bottled water: 40c–$1+ per litre — most expensive, lots of plastic.

Taste and contaminant reduction

Tap-mounted carbon filters and good bottled water both deliver clean taste. Filter jugs help with chlorine but vary in what else they reduce. Unfiltered tap leaves chlorine taste, sediment and microplastics in the glass.

Convenience and waste

• Tap filter: Always on, no fridge space, no plastic bottles, installs in minutes.
• Bottled: Heavy to carry, clutters the fridge, huge plastic footprint.
• Jug: Needs refilling and fridge space; you wait for it to drip through.

The verdict

If you want bottled-water taste at a fraction of the cost — with no plastic and nothing to refill — a tap-mounted carbon filter is the clear winner for most Australian households. Compare PureFlow →

Frequently asked questions

Is filtered tap water as good as bottled?
For taste and everyday drinking, a quality carbon filter gives comparable clean taste at a tiny fraction of the cost and without the plastic.

Are filter jugs worth it?
They’re a low-cost entry point, but slow, need frequent cartridge changes and take fridge space. A tap filter is more convenient long-term.

PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Australian Drinking Water: What You Need to Know

PFAS are a large family of synthetic “forever chemicals” that break down extremely slowly and can build up in water, the environment and the body over time. In June 2025 the NHMRC tightened the PFAS limits in Australia’s Drinking Water Guidelines. Activated-carbon filtration — like the carbon block in a tap filter — is one of the most accessible ways to help reduce common PFAS at the point you actually drink.

What are PFAS?

PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemicals used for decades in non-stick, waterproof and stain-resistant products. They’re nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they barely degrade, so they linger in the environment and can accumulate over years.

Are PFAS in Australian tap water?

Australian mains water is treated and tested against national guidelines, and PFAS levels are regulated. But because these chemicals are so persistent and widespread, regulators are lowering the allowable limits — and many people choose to reduce their exposure further where they easily can.

What changed in 2025?

In June 2025 the NHMRC lowered the allowable PFAS levels for several common compounds (including PFOA and PFOS) in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines — a clear signal that long-term PFAS exposure is being taken seriously.

How do you reduce PFAS in drinking water?

Activated carbon is one of the most practical ways to help reduce common long-chain PFAS such as PFOA and PFOS at the tap. Reduction varies with water quality and PFAS type, so a point-of-use carbon filter isn’t a guarantee of complete removal — but it’s a sensible extra layer where it matters most: the water you drink. Read the full water guide →

Frequently asked questions

Does boiling remove PFAS?
No — boiling does not remove PFAS and can slightly concentrate them as water evaporates. Activated carbon is a better option for reducing them.

Does a carbon filter remove all PFAS?
Carbon helps reduce common long-chain PFAS, but reduction depends on water conditions and PFAS type, so it shouldn’t be considered complete removal.