Australian Politics Forum - Water filters/reverse osmosis

Sophia Gold Member Offline Posts: 9163	Water filters/reverse osmosis Sep 30^th, 2025 at 7:08am Has anyone had one installed, under sink or whole house?
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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 50372 Gender:	Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis Reply #1 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 10:21am It is a hugely complex installation, take up all your under-the-sink cupboard. I have not used one tho the local plumber offered to give me his set up (he was selling that house) and install it for free. I am already short of shelf space in the kitchen so declined his kind offer.
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Sophia Gold Member Offline Posts: 9163	Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis Reply #2 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 11:52am Yeah, and I think it has its own tap, not actually connected to existing taps? I was considering the big outdoor whole house type.
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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 50372 Gender:	Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis Reply #3 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 11:54am Why so big? You only really drink out the kitchen tap.
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Gnads

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Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis
Reply #4 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 12:52pm

Sophia wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 7:08am:

Has anyone had one installed, under sink or whole house?

I have under sink filters - takes chlorine & sediment out of town water.

I don't have reverse osmosis to take fluoride out of the water .... our town supply is not supposed to have fluoride in it - the Council put out a public vote & it came back NO to fluoride.

Reverse osmosis is far more expensive to buy & operate.

Depending on the quality of the filter membranes(%of fluoride it will remove) they range from $400 to $1,200 for a residential system.

And yes they would take up much of your under sink space......

but it doesn't have to go there - it can be set up outside - where you need to cut it in to the water inlet pipe from the mains and be in a little filter house - then it would do the whole house.

If it's about removing fluoride you want it gone from all taps .... you don't want to be cooking or showering in fluoridated water.

Of course people with/on tank water do not need reverse osmosis filtration - just normal filters if you wish.

Edit - reverse osmosis also wastes much more water - not good if you're on tanks.

Quote:

A typical residential Reverse Osmosis (RO) system wastes 3 to 4 liters of water for every 1 liter of purified water it produces, though this ratio can vary depending on water quality, pressure, temperature, and the specific RO system. High-end industrial systems can achieve much lower waste ratios, potentially reaching 1:1. Factors like higher water pressure, higher water hardness, and more advanced system designs can lower the waste ratio.

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"When you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It's only painful and difficult for others. The same applies when you are stupid." ~ Ricky Gervais

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Yadda

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Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis
Reply #5 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 12:53pm

Sophia wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 7:08am:

Has anyone had one installed, under sink or whole house?

Not here.

Sophia,

If you live in a locale with a relatively 'clean sky',
you could consider installing a small rainwater tank.
......then manually, from time to time, fill a small container,
from your RT, to be used in the home.

I would not want to drink 'town water'.

I live in a semi-remote area, +200km from my capital city.

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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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Sophia

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Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis
Reply #6 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 1:42pm

Thanks for the replies folks. I’ve since found out that reverse osmosis is very slow to filter and would feel like the pressure in house is bad.
So just filtered system looks best.
Quotes on average for whole house is $4500 to $5500
I found a mob in Brisbane that have a special for just over $2600
So I will be ordering it for a present for my son’s house. I reckon his eczema should improve.
Filter replacement per annum is $249 to $449 depending on model.
There’s a filter system for tank water/bore water too.
But gee… all my 71 years of life being on rain tank water with no filter to date. Why would I bother now Grin

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Jovial Monk

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Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis
Reply #7 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 2:25pm

I want a 20,000L iron rainwater tank.

This could irrigate the orchard at least partly. Just the roof of the garage would fill it. Also be a fire fighting reserve.

Then maybe a 4000L iron rainwater tank close to the kitchen and some narrow iron rainwater tanks along the east side of the house. I would paint these black, provide frost/cold protection at night.

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Bobby. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 113061 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis Reply #8 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 3:56pm Sophia wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 7:08am: Has anyone had one installed, under sink or whole house? The problem with filters is that people don't replace them often enough so they build up mold and bacteria inside them. In most cases you're safer without them.
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Yadda Gold Member Offline Posts: 22364 A cat with a view	Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis Reply #9 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 6:05pm i can see now, that what i posted here, in this post, was completely irrelevant. and you should all listen to the advice of Jovial Monk in Reply #10.
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Jovial Monk Gold Member Offline Dogs not cats! Posts: 50372 Gender:	Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis Reply #10 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 6:17pm ACV only has any benefit if the “vinegar mother” is still alive. What benefits does it have? REAL benefits? Scientifically proven?
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Sophia

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Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis
Reply #11 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 6:30pm

Bobby. wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 3:56pm:

Sophia wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 7:08am:

Has anyone had one installed, under sink or whole house?

The problem with filters is that people don't replace them often enough so
they build up mold and bacteria inside them.
In most cases you're safer without them.

Exactly. Which is why I’m buying the change over filters as well for the next 12 or 18 months
Only 2 of them in house and occasional guests. So it should last more than 12 months.
Here’s a pic of the difference.

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12D85692-4244-4A0A-ABC4-65D62FE61214.jpeg (37 KB | 2 )

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Bobby.

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Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis
Reply #12 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 6:33pm

Sophia wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 6:30pm:

Bobby. wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 3:56pm:

Sophia wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 7:08am:

Has anyone had one installed, under sink or whole house?

The problem with filters is that people don't replace them often enough so
they build up mold and bacteria inside them.
In most cases you're safer without them.

Exactly. Which is why I’m buying the change over filters as well for the next 12 or 18 months
Only 2 of them in house and occasional guests. So it should last more than 12 months.
Here’s a pic of the difference.

nahh - those filters can get filthy in one month.

I don't trust them.

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Gnads

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Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis
Reply #13 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 7:46pm

Sophia wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 1:42pm:

Thanks for the replies folks. I’ve since found out that reverse osmosis is very slow to filter and would feel like the pressure in house is bad.
So just filtered system looks best.
Quotes on average for whole house is $4500 to $5500
I found a mob in Brisbane that have a special for just over $2600
So I will be ordering it for a present for my son’s house. I reckon his eczema should improve.
Filter replacement per annum is $249 to $449 depending on model.
There’s a filter system for tank water/bore water too.
But gee… all my 71 years of life being on rain tank water with no filter to date. Why would I bother now Grin

All those prices you've quoted are for what? reverse osmosis for your sons house ... not yours.

Otherwise I'd say they are ridiculously over priced.

And even for Reverse Osmosis they are over priced.

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"When you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It's only painful and difficult for others. The same applies when you are stupid." ~ Ricky Gervais

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Gnads

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Re: Water filters/reverse osmosis
Reply #14 - Sep 30^th, 2025 at 7:47pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Sep 30^th, 2025 at 2:25pm:

I want a 20,000L iron rainwater tank.

This could irrigate the orchard at least partly. Just the roof of the garage would fill it. Also be a fire fighting reserve.

Then maybe a 4000L iron rainwater tank close to the kitchen and some narrow iron rainwater tanks along the east side of the house. I would paint these black, provide frost/cold protection at night.

Why would you buy iron(galvo) water tanks that rust out?

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"When you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It's only painful and difficult for others. The same applies when you are stupid." ~ Ricky Gervais

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