Do You Need a Water Filter for Tank Water?
If a household drinks its tank water, it needs filtration. Rainwater picks up whatever is on the roof and in the gutters on its way to the tank, and a tank has no treatment plant behind it. A filter removes sediment, taste and odour, and UV sterilisation deals with bacteria that a filter alone does not.
That applies to a lot of the Northern Rivers. Rural and semi-rural properties around Alstonville, Mullumbimby and the Byron hinterland often sit beyond the town mains supplied by Rous County Council, so the tank is the only supply.
Jesse from JF Plumbing Group is an authorised Puretec installer and fits tank water systems across the region. This is how he explains it to homeowners.
Is tank water safe to drink?
Tank water can be safe to drink when the roof, gutters and tank are well maintained and the water is filtered and disinfected. Untreated, it is not guaranteed. The risk comes from what washes in, not from the rain.
In this region that means leaf litter from camphor laurels and gums, droppings from birds, possums and bats, and dust and salt carried on coastal winds. Heavy summer storms then flush all of it into the tank at once.
What does a rainwater tank filter remove?
A rainwater tank filter system usually works in stages, and each stage has one job.
Sediment filter: catches dirt, rust and fine debris so it does not reach taps and appliances.
Carbon filter: improves taste and smell and reduces some chemicals.
UV sterilisation: treats bacteria and other microorganisms as the water passes the lamp.
Sediment and carbon make the water clear and pleasant. UV is the stage that addresses the health question. For a home that drinks its tank water, Jesse recommends all three.
Do I need a whole house filter or just one at the kitchen sink?
A home on tank water is usually better served by a whole house system, because every tap, shower and appliance draws from the same tank. An under sink filter only protects one tap.
Homes on town water have a different decision to make. Jesse covers that in is a whole house water filter worth it.
How often do tank water filters need changing?
It depends on the system, how much water the home uses and how dirty the incoming water is. Most filters need changing every 6 to 12 months, and UV lamps are typically replaced once a year. Change sooner if flow drops. Jesse offers scheduled servicing so filters do not run past their service life.
A blocked cartridge is one of the common reasons a tank-fed home loses pressure. If the taps have slowed, Jesse's guide to low water pressure lists the other causes.
Signs a tank water system needs attention
Water that looks cloudy or discoloured after rain
An earthy or musty smell or taste
Flow that drops between cartridge changes
A UV unit showing a warning light or alarm
Gutters and first flush devices that have not been cleaned this season
Gutter and tank checks belong on the yearly list alongside the rest of the house. The Northern Rivers plumbing maintenance checklist sets out what to check each season.
When to call a plumber
Call a licensed plumber to size and install a filtration system, to add UV to an existing filter, or when water quality changes and a cartridge swap does not fix it. Sizing matters: a system that is too small for the pump will choke the flow to the whole house.
Jesse installs and services water filtration systems across the Northern Rivers, from Lennox Head and Ballina to Byron Bay and the hinterland.
FAQ
Can you drink rainwater straight from the tank?
It is not recommended without treatment. Clear water can still carry bacteria from the roof and gutters.
Does boiling tank water make it safe?
Boiling deals with bacteria but does not remove sediment, taste or chemical contaminants. Filtration and UV treat the water at every tap.
Do I still need a filter if I have a first flush diverter?
Yes. A first flush diverter reduces what enters the tank. It does not treat the water that is stored there.
