Australian homes get PFAS filtration system as concern rises

Complete Home Filtration has launched WaterWall, a whole-home PFAS filtration system for Australian households. The launch follows new YouGov research showing rising concern about substances in tap water.

In independent testing by IAPMO R&T Labs to NSF/ANSI 53 standards, the system achieved a 99.95% total PFAS reduction across a rated capacity of 149,039 litres, according to the company. The testing covered multiple PFAS compounds, including long- and short-chain chemicals, and was designed around conditions intended to reflect whole-home use.

A survey commissioned by Complete Home Filtration found 42% of Australians are more concerned about potentially harmful substances in household water than they were five years ago. It also found 70% are worried about PFAS in their home water, while 57% do not feel they have control over the water flowing through their taps.

Confidence in existing filtration appears limited. Among people who use water filters, only 10% said they were very confident their system removes or significantly reduces potentially harmful substances.

The research also points to a wider gap in consumer understanding of water treatment. Almost two-thirds of respondents, or 62%, said they had never checked what is in the water entering their home, while 37% identified boiling as the main method for treating household water.

Testing focus

Complete Home Filtration said WaterWall was developed with funding support from the Defence Science Centre. Installed where water enters a property, the system treats water before it is distributed through the home, and installation by a licensed plumber typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours, according to the company.

The four-stage system is designed for municipally supplied water and targets PFAS, chlorine, heavy metals and other specified contaminants, the company said. It added that laboratory stress testing extended to 298,078 litres while maintaining more than 99% PFAS reduction.

WaterWall enters a market where smaller household devices remain more common than whole-home systems. The survey found 17% of Australians use jug or benchtop filters, while 8% use whole-home filtration.

Mandy Sacher, Paediatric Nutritionist and Child Nutrition & Wellbeing Expert, said: "Understanding what we put into our bodies and the chemicals we encounter every day is an important issue for Australian families. From ingredients in food and skincare to household products, microplastics and PFAS, there is a lot for families to navigate. Research is helping us understand the potential combined effects of exposure to certain chemicals, highlighting why we need to consider exposure across food, water and our wider environment.

"Some environmental exposures are beyond our control, but Australians do have choices when it comes to the water they drink and cook with. While we can generally have confidence in the safety of our tap water, clear information about our local supply and the options available helps us make informed decisions. With informed choice comes empowerment, giving families practical ways to take a more proactive role in their wellbeing."

Consumer concerns

The survey also suggested concern about household water sits within a broader pattern of health-related behaviour. It found 58% of Australians wash their food, 51% check food ingredients, 30% try to limit exposure to plastics and chemicals, and 27% check skincare ingredients.

That broader behaviour may help explain why water quality is attracting more attention, particularly where PFAS is concerned. PFAS refers to a group of synthetic chemicals that have come under scrutiny because of their persistence in the environment and their presence in some water supplies.

Complete Home Filtration said WaterWall is available from AUD $6,999 fully installed. The system is aimed at households seeking treatment at the point where mains water enters the property rather than at individual taps.

Suzanne Dodds, Founder and Managing Director, Complete Home Filtration, said: "Australian water is as diverse as its people, meaning what flows from someone's tap in one postcode may be very different in another. While our household water is still among the safest and most controlled in the world, growing awareness of variations is driving a desire for more choice and control.

"That demand and, in particular, increased concern around potentially harmful substances including PFAS, was the key driver behind the development of WaterWall. We wanted to create a market-leading whole-home solution for supplied water, backed by the most rigorous independent testing, to give households not only greater choice but total confidence to manage their own water."