TL;DR
Many families buy bottled water because tap water tastes of chlorine or seems untrustworthy. A suitable filter can improve taste, reduce unwanted contaminants and eliminate the cost and plastic waste of bottled water. BRITA is an affordable starting point, Puretec offers straightforward carbon filtration, Doulton provides dependable gravity systems, and Waters Co produces gravity-fed alkaline water. For the most complete solution, AlkaWay’s UltraStream combines broad contaminant reduction, meaningful fluoride reduction, alkaline minerals and molecular hydrogen. It connects to most kitchen taps without permanent plumbing, supplies filtered water on demand and comes with experienced Australian support built locally over 26 years.
Many Australian families have developed the same expensive habit. The tap water smells like a swimming pool, tastes metallic or simply does not inspire confidence, so another carton of bottled water comes home from the supermarket.
It feels safer. Unfortunately, it also means carrying heavy bottles, paying repeatedly for packaging and filling the recycling bin with plastic.
The better solution is to make the water already delivered to your home taste good enough that everyone wants to drink it. A quality filter can do that—but “water filter” can mean anything from a simple jug to a sophisticated multi-stage system.
So which brands are genuinely worth considering?
Why does tap water taste unpleasant?
Australian municipal water is treated and monitored under requirements informed by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Chlorine or chloramine is commonly used to control harmful microorganisms and protect water as it travels through the distribution network.
That protection is important, but disinfectant can leave an unpleasant taste and smell. Water may also collect sediment or traces of metals from ageing mains and household plumbing.
This does not mean all tap water is dangerous. It means water can meet official guidelines and still taste sufficiently unpleasant to send your family back to the bottled-water aisle.
Bottled water is not automatically purer. Depending on the brand, it may be spring, mineral or treated municipal water. Much of what you pay for is the bottle, label, transport and retail margin.
What makes a filter improve taste?
Activated carbon is usually the most important material for reducing chlorine, odour and many organic compounds. If your supplier uses chloramine, catalytic carbon or published chloramine-reduction performance is preferable because chloramine is more persistent.
Flow and cartridge condition also matter. Water pushed through too quickly may not receive enough contact time. An overdue cartridge cannot continue working properly simply because we have developed an emotional attachment to the replacement money.
Ask what the exact cartridge reduces, whether meaningful testing exists, how long it should last and whether replacements will remain available. The number of “stages” matters less than what those stages actually accomplish.
Which brands are worth considering?
BRITA: the affordable starting point
BRITA is familiar, affordable and widely stocked. Its jugs and Flow Cask can improve chlorine-affected taste.
The BRITA ON TAP Pro is a more substantial option. It treats up to 600 litres per cartridge and has published reductions for chlorine, certain metals, fine particles, bacteria and PFOS/PFOA under specified conditions.
BRITA is sensible when taste is the main concern. However, a family can use small cartridges quickly, particularly when filtered water is also used for cooking.
Puretec: straightforward carbon filtration
The Puretec CT15 is a compact benchtop system that connects to the kitchen tap using a diverter.
Its five-micron carbon cartridge targets chlorine, sediment, chemicals, unpleasant taste and odour while retaining naturally occurring minerals. Puretec has broad Australian distribution, making replacement cartridges relatively easy to find.
It is a practical conventional filter, although it does not provide the same broad combination of fluoride reduction, alkaline minerals and molecular hydrogen as the UltraStream.
Doulton and British Berkefeld: gravity filtration
Doulton is known for ceramic filtration. Its British Berkefeld gravity systems require no connection to the tap or electricity.
They suit renters, caravans and kitchens with unusual taps. Water is poured into an upper chamber and slowly passes through ceramic elements into the lower reservoir.
The disadvantages are bench space, regular refilling and waiting for gravity. Contaminant claims also vary between the available filter elements, so buyers should check the exact model.
Waters Co: gravity-fed alkaline water
The Waters Co BIO 500 MAX is a seven-litre gravity system.
Waters Co advertises alkaline mineral water, fluoride and PFAS reduction, and filter life of up to 6,000 litres or 18 months under typical conditions.
It is a credible alkaline option, although it is relatively large and must be manually refilled. When someone drinks the final glass and forgets to refill it, gravity suddenly seems far less convenient.
Why UltraStream is my preferred alternative
The AlkaWay UltraStream Benchtop addresses the original problem—water nobody wants to drink—without requiring permanent plumbing, electricity or a storage tank.
It connects to most conventional kitchen taps using a diverter and supplied adaptors. Turn the diverter one way for ordinary tap water and the other for fresh UltraStream water.
There is no jug to fill and no waiting for gravity.
The cartridge does considerably more than disguise chlorine. Published laboratory results include up to 99.9% chlorine reduction, approximately 78% fluoride reduction over the tested cartridge life, and very high reductions for tested lead, aluminium and several pesticides.
Actual results naturally vary with incoming water, contaminant concentration and flow.
UltraStream also supplies alkaline minerals and can produce water up to approximately pH 9, depending on the source water. Its technical specifications report molecular-hydrogen production of up to 0.8 mg/L under suitable water and flow conditions.
That combination is the important difference.
Removing chlorine and other unpleasant chemicals improves taste. Adding a balanced mineral character can make the water taste fresher and more satisfying. When water tastes good, people are far more likely to drink it.
The cartridge is rated for up to 3,000 litres or 12 months, depending on usage and source-water quality. The system carries a three-year warranty, while AlkaWay has supported filtration, alkaline-water and molecular-hydrogen products for more than 26 years.
Unusual or pull-out mixer taps may require a special adaptor. AlkaWay can usually identify the correct fitting from a photograph and measurement of the tap aerator.
The final verdict
Choose BRITA for the lowest-cost improvement in taste. Choose Puretec for conventional carbon filtration. Choose Doulton when you need a tap-free gravity system. Consider Waters Co when a large gravity-fed alkaline filter suits your household.
For a family genuinely ready to stop buying bottled water, however, UltraStream is the strongest overall alternative.
It combines broad filtration, meaningful fluoride reduction, alkaline minerals, molecular hydrogen, on-demand water and long-term Australian support.
Fill a glass jug with UltraStream water and place it in the refrigerator. Give everyone a reusable bottle. Soon bottled water begins to look less like security and more like what it really is: an expensive weekly delivery of plastic packaging.