Hi there here's what's really in your water.
Postcode 3000 — supplied by Melbourne's integrated water network. Your water is safe and compliant. That's not the same as ideal for skin, hair, or taste, here's the honest breakdown.
Chlorine. The Big One.
Melbourne's water is treated with chlorine to keep it safe on its journey from reservoir to tap. It works, but chlorine is oxidative, meaning it can strip natural oils from skin and hair with every wash.
Across Melbourne's supply, free chlorine typically measures 0.1-0.5 mg/L at the point it leaves treatment, well within safety limits, and still enough to affect how your skin and hair feel over time.
The Trace Stuff
Beyond chlorine, small amounts of naturally occurring metals, copper, iron, aluminium, manganese, pick up trace amounts on the way through ageing infrastructure. Over months of daily showers, it's part of what contributes to:
- Dull, weighed-down hair
- Dry or tight-feeling skin
- Buildup on fixtures and hair strands
Your Water, By The Numbers
Typical ranges across Melbourne's water supply network, tested at treatment reservoirs. Your water is fully compliant with Australian safety standards — this is about what's still worth filtering out for your skin, hair and taste.
| Parameter | Typical Range | Why it's worth filtering |
|---|---|---|
| Free Chlorine | 0.1–0.5 mg/L | Keeps water safe in transit, but strips natural oils from skin and hair. |
| Total Trihalomethanes | 2–41 µg/L | A disinfection byproduct formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter. |
| Copper | 0.001–0.16 mg/L | Trace metal picked up from ageing plumbing on the way to your tap. |
| Iron | 0.01–0.14 mg/L | Can contribute to dullness and buildup on hair over time. |
| Water Hardness | 9–38 mg/L | Melbourne's water is naturally very soft, good news, one less thing to filter for. |
Source: Melbourne Water, "Water Quality Testing" data (typical annual range across major storage reservoirs), last updated October 2024 — melbournewater.com.au. Figures are network-wide typical ranges, not a lab test of your individual property.
Your Water's Journey
Melbourne Water treats and disinfects at the reservoir. From there, it's a straight run through the network to your home, nothing removes what's left by the time it reaches you, unless you do.
One System. Every Tap. Step Zero Handled.
A Selene Whole Home Filtration System removes 99.9% of chlorine and filters to 1 micron, installed on your main line by a licensed plumber, so it's already done before your shower, sink or glass gets involved.
You're on the list
A Selene specialist will be in touch shortly to confirm your details and check installation availability in your area. Keep an eye on your inbox, your full report is headed there too.