When we think about staying healthy, we often focus on eating right, exercising and getting enough sleep. But what about the water we drink every day? Clean drinking water is just as essential to our well-being, yet many of us don’t realise what might be hiding in our taps.
Holistic and functional medicine experts stress the importance of filtering water, but what exactly are we filtering out? This guide dives into the most common contaminants in drinking water—what they are, where they come from and how to protect your family from their potential risks.
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The Hidden Cocktail: Over 300 Contaminants Lurking in Your Tap Water
Our water systems are designed to provide clean, safe drinking water, but they also carry a hidden burden—over 300 contaminants. Some pose little risk, while others can have serious long-term health effects.
Water treatment plants do a great job of eliminating immediate dangers like bacteria and viruses, but many contaminants slip through, making home filtration a critical line of defence.
Most Common Contaminants Found in Drinking Water and How They Affect Your Health
Here’s a closer look at the most common culprits found in tap water and how they can impact your health:
1. Heavy Metals
🚫 Lead, Copper, Zinc and Mercury: These metals often enter water supplies through ageing pipes, industrial waste and environmental pollution.
- Heath Risks: Long-term exposure to heavy metals can result in severe health issues such as neurological disorders, kidney damage and cancer.
2. Disinfection By-products
🚫 Chlorine, Chloramines and Trihalomethanes (THMs): These chemicals are used in water treatment to disinfect and kill harmful pathogens.
- Heath Risks: When chlorine and chloramines react with organic matter in the water, they form potentially harmful by-products like THMs, which have been linked to cancer, liver damage and other health problems.
3. Inorganic Compounds
🚫 Nitrates and Fluoride: Nitrates primarily come from agricultural runoff, while fluoride is intentionally added for dental health.
- Heath Risks: While arguably fluoride helps prevent cavities, excessive consumption can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis, bone fractures and neurological effects.
🚫 Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE): A gasoline additive that can contaminate water supplies through leaks from underground storage tanks.
- Heath Risks: MTBE can cause liver damage and has been classified as a potential carcinogen.
4. Microorganisms
🚫 Bacteria, Viruses, Parasites and Cysts: These pathogens can contaminate water supplies, especially in areas with ageing infrastructure or inadequate treatment processes.
- Heath Risks: Waterborne microorganisms can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, such as diarrhoea, vomiting and cramps, with some potentially leading to life-threatening diseases.
5. Emerging Contaminants
🚫 Microplastics: Tiny plastic particles that end up in our water sources through the breakdown of larger plastic waste.
- Heath Risks: Microplastics can have detrimental effects on human health, with potential links to hormone disruption and digestive problems.
🚫 PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances): Often called “forever chemicals,” PFAS are used in non-stick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, food packaging and firefighting foams.
Health Risks: PFAS have been linked to thyroid issues, immune system suppression, developmental delays in children and certain cancers, including kidney and testicular cancer.
🚫 Pharmaceutical Drugs: Antibiotics, hormones and other medications often make their way into drinking water through improper disposal or wastewater treatment.
- Heath Risks: Though present in trace amounts, these drugs can disrupt hormone systems, contribute to antibiotic resistance and affect the reproductive health of both humans and wildlife.
🚫 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): These chemicals, including benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene, are often found in industrial solvents and paints.
- Heath Risks: VOCs can evaporate into the air and water and potentially cause liver, kidney and central nervous system damage, along with contributing to cancer risks.
🚫 Herbicides and Pesticides: Agricultural runoff is a major source of these chemicals.
- Heath Risks: These chemicals can disrupt hormone systems, irritate the skin and eyes and increase cancer risks when they contaminate drinking water.
🚫 Parasites and Cysts: These microorganisms, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium, can survive in chlorinated water.
- Heath Risks: They can pose immediate health risks by causing gastrointestinal illnesses.
6. Other Inorganic and Chemical Contaminants
🚫 Arsenic: A naturally occurring substance, arsenic often contaminates water through the erosion of rocks and the use of pesticides.
- Heath Risks: Long-term exposure to arsenic is linked to cancer, skin lesions and developmental issues.
🚫 Cadmium: This toxic metal, often found in industrial waste and pipes, can accumulate in the body over time.
- Heath Risks: Long-term exposure to cadmium can lead to kidney damage. It also disrupts calcium metabolism, weakening bones and increasing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
🚫 Chromium 6: Known for its industrial use, particularly in electroplating, this carcinogenic compound can contaminate water through industrial discharge.
- Heath Risks: Chromium 6 has been associated with serious health risks, including liver and kidney damage.
Protecting Your Health Starts with Cleaner Water
With so many contaminants commonly found in our drinking water today, from invisible microplastics to harmful chemicals like PFAS, it’s more important than ever to choose a filtration system that offers comprehensive protection. While many filters remove some impurities, reverse osmosis (RO) water filters stand out as the most effective option for protecting you and your family’s health.
Why Choose Reverse Osmosis Water Filters?
Reverse osmosis systems are capable of filtering out a wide range of contaminants—many of which are too small for standard filters to catch. This includes microplastics and PFAS, which are increasingly being found in both city and town water supplies.
A Reverse Osmosis System Can Help Remove:
Microplastics
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)
Bacteria, viruses and parasites
Chlorine and chlorine by-products
Fluoride
Herbicides and pesticides
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic
Reverse osmosis filters offer peace of mind by removing even the smallest and most stubborn contaminants from water. If you are using city or town water, a reverse osmosis filter is the best investment you can make to ensure every glass of water is clean, fresh and safe to drink.
Benchtop Reverse Osmosis Water Filters: Powerful Protection Against Common Water Contaminants
When it comes to safeguarding your drinking water from harmful contaminants such as PFAS, microplastics, heavy metals and chlorine, reverse osmosis (RO) water filters offer some of the most effective solutions available today. These systems use multi-stage filtration to remove even the smallest particles—filtering down to as small as 0.0001 microns.
Benchtop reverse osmosis filters are a particularly practical option for those who may not have space for under-sink systems or who are renting their home. Here’s a closer look at two of our best recommendations:
Smart Hydration Meets Advanced Filtration
The Philips Aquaporin Water Station is a cutting-edge benchtop RO system that brings advanced technology into your home or office. Powered by Aquaporin Inside™ biomimetic filtration, this unit mimics the natural filtration process of water in living cells. It removes up to 110 harmful substances, including PFAS and microplastics, down to an impressive 0.0001 micron, delivering exceptionally clean and great-tasting water.
Another standout feature is its mineralisation technology, which adds a safe trace amount of strontium to enhance water taste and provide mild health benefits without compromising safety. And with its plug-and-play design, it requires no plumbing—making it incredibly user-friendly.
Budget-Friendly, High-Performance Filtration
The RO 4000 Benchtop Reverse Osmosis System is a powerful yet affordable alternative for households that want effective water purification without the cost or complexity of high-end units. It offers the same core RO technology found in premium systems—capable of removing PFAS, microplastics, fluoride, chlorine and heavy metals—all while being compact and easy to install.
This system connects directly to your kitchen tap spout, making it ideal for renters or those who don’t want permanent under-sink installations.
If you're looking for a cost-effective solution that still provides comprehensive contaminant removal, including the effective reduction of PFAS (up to 99.9%), this system is a standout choice.
Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filters: Clean, Safe Drinking Water at Home
If you're looking for a more space-saving and discreet alternative to benchtop RO water filters, under sink reverse osmosis (RO) systems are an excellent choice. Installed neatly under your kitchen sink, these systems offer high-capacity, multi-stage filtration without taking up counter space.
Many models also feature pH balancing, remineralisation and even hydrogen enrichment for added health benefits. Designed for Australian water conditions, they include specialised filters to remove chloramines commonly found in municipal supplies. Here’s a closer look at two of our top-performing under sink RO systems:
Advanced, Multi-Stage Filtration for Optimal Health and Taste
The HPF 7 Stage Reverse Osmosis System is the ultimate choice for households looking for comprehensive water purification. It features seven stages of filtration, purification and revitalisation to ensure your water is not only clean but also beneficial to your health.
This system removes a wide range of contaminants, including PFAS, microplastics, fluoride, heavy metals and chloramines, thanks to its specialised chloramine removal filter and low-waste RO membrane.
For those looking for a top-tier under sink RO system that addresses virtually all common water contaminants while also enhancing water quality, the HPF 7 Stage System is a standout solution.
Efficient Filtration with Optional Alkaline Enhancement
The 4 Stage Reverse Osmosis Under Sink Water Filter System offers a highly effective yet streamlined approach to water purification. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking reliable removal of everyday contaminants such as PFAS, microplastics, fluoride and heavy metals.
The four-stage process begins with sediment and carbon filtration to eliminate dirt, chlorine and chemical residues, followed by a powerful RO membrane that filters out harmful substances down to the molecular level.
Ideal for Australian households, the 4 Stage Reverse Osmosis Under Sink Water Filter System is compact, easy to install and comes with a 12L storage tank for on-demand access to safe and great-tasting water.
Take Control of Your Water Quality
Understanding the most common contaminants in drinking water is the first step toward better health. While municipal treatment plants play an important role, they can’t remove everything. By using a reverse osmosis filtration system such as the Philips Aquaporin Reverse Osmosis Water Station or HPF 7 Stage Reverse Osmosis System, you add an extra layer of protection to ensure that the water your family drinks is as pure and safe as possible.
Your health starts with what you put in your body—so why not make sure your water is as clean as it should be?
Common Water Contaminants & Sources: Tap water may contain over 300 contaminants, including heavy metals, bacteria, chlorine by-products, pesticides, microplastics and PFAS. These come from ageing pipes, industrial waste and agricultural runoff.
Health Risks of Contaminants: Exposure to harmful substances like VOCs and heavy metals can lead to digestive issues, nervous system disorders, immune suppression and increased cancer risks.
Water Filtration for Protection: High-quality filtration systems like the Philips Aquaporin Reverse Osmosis Water Station and HPF 7 Stage Reverse Osmosis System effectively remove bacteria, chlorine, pesticides and heavy metals to ensure safe drinking water for you and your loved ones.
Can Boiling Water Remove Contaminants?
Boiling water kills bacteria and viruses but does not remove heavy metals, chlorine by-products, pesticides or microplastics.
Do Water Filters Remove Microplastics?
Yes, advanced filtration systems with activated carbon and ceramic filters can effectively reduce microplastics in drinking water.
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink Without a Filter?
While municipal treatment plants reduce immediate health risks, many contaminants remain in tap water. A home filtration system adds an extra layer of protection.
