In Australian apartment buildings, the importance of maintaining the water quality is more valuable than ever before. Tenants rely on clean and safe water for their daily needs, and how successful this is ensured can play a part in your property's public reputation. With the real estate industry more competitive than ever, it can take more than a stone bench top to impress potential buyers or rental residents. The main question on rental and buyers' minds when viewing an apartment to live in is - ‘how will my life improve by living here?’ So, this naturally reflects into an important question for you to answer - ‘how can I provide a great lifestyle for my residents and increase building value? Read on to discover how you can achieve this with water filtration.
Firstly, why filter mains water?
We use mains water for countless daily living essentials such as showering, hand washing, teeth cleaning, dish washing, kettle boiling, clothes washing, car washing, and keeping our plants alive! As we know, mains water undergoes council treatment to neutralise bacteria, parasites, pesticides, and a range of other toxins. Our councils do their absolute best to keep this water safe and carry out the treatment process. However, these chemicals can affect our desire to drink, affect our hair and skin, and our appliance pipeworks.
Due to ageing pipes or external factors, apartment buildings can be susceptible to these various chemicals such as chlorine, lead, and pesticides entering the water supply across the building. It’s therefore essential to thoroughly assess your building's specific water requirements and challenges. These can be simple steps such as assessing the water quality or issues, and determining the volume of water the building uses and the required flow rate.
Why will residents want filtered water for their health?
With filtered water becoming more common in all aspects of our water interaction, it is not unusual for residents to want to filter their water in some form or another. When it comes to drinking unfiltered mains water, the common bad taste and odour that comes from chlorine can be off putting, and lead to a low desire for water. No one likes to drink bad tasting water, however in saying this, water is the most vital substance for a healthy mind and body¹.To keep properly hydrated men need a whopping 10 cups of water everyday, while women need 8 cups²
80% of the Australian population still don’t drink enough water each day and suffer the effects of dehydration³.Water actually provides way more essential body functions than we might think, besides just quenching our thirst. Water regulates our body temperature, lubricates joints, moistens tissues in the eyes, nose and mouth, protects body organs and dissolves minerals and nutrients to make them accessible to the body⁴.
With this in mind, as previously mentioned residents can commonly desire filtration to make their water taste better to drink. This can be by installing an undersink filter and mounting a secondary filter tap at the kitchen sink, and we know sometimes residents can sneakily bypass your permission!. This risk of unauthorised, or perhaps incorrectly installed systems can cause headaches and additional plumbing fees to either install correctly, or uninstall after these residents have left. This situation can be resolved with water filtration installed from the beginning.
ThePuretec Tripla ELITE Seriestapware is the solution for easy to install filtered water. Connecting to the existing regular mains water lines and adding a second filtered line, the unsightly secondary tap and drill hole is a concept of the past here as the Tripla Elite connects these lines into a 3-way mixer tap solution. Usability is simple for the resident, with the large handle for regular hot and cold, and the small handle for cold filtered water.
What gives the Tripla Elite mixer tap range its point of difference is the full stainless steel construction and PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) outer coating for durability and resistance to abrasions, scratches and corrosion. This means these mixer taps are long lasting, and will be resistant to the common, and less than desirable, wear and tear from a range of residents over time. This tapware range is available in two alternative designs to suit each preference, the Series 10 has a more traditional rounded shape, whereas the Series 20 evokes a sleek and modern style. Each series has 5 different colour options to choose from to tie in cohesively with the apartment style.
This tapware feature provides dual benefits for resident health, and apartment owner value. As the quality of resident lifestyle, and the apartment kitchen aesthetics are taken to a unique level and will certainly be a feature talking point for real estate agents to wow potential rental residents and apartment buyers upon inspection viewings.
On an additional note, having access to clean and good tasting water at any floor or zone can also position your complex ahead of competitors. Spaces such as a gym, a common room, or even a cafe can benefit from this. ThePuretec DF seriesincorporates market-leading Ultra Z Filtration Technology, meaning chlorine, bad taste & odour, sediment, chemicals, bacteria and cysts will be reduced down to approx 0.1 micron.
Residents can feel secure knowing they can rely on your water source and easily rehydrate. Along with the continued growth and need of reducing our plastic waste for our waterways, having this source installed for residents to easily refill their drink bottle can be an important move into an environmentally friendly future. Demonstrating your commitment to an eco-friendly space can also attract environmentally conscious residents.
Why will residents want water filtration for their skin?
With the ever growing trend and desire for great looking skin and hair no matter what age we are, it is becoming more apparent how our daily water exposure can be a contributor to skin and hair health. We all have the strong smell of chlorine from the local swimming pool burned into our memories, and experiencing dry hair and skin afterwards. As skin is the largest organ of the body, hydration is crucial to keeping skin soft, supple, and without irritation, but how often do we think about the daily effects of chlorine in our shower and skincare routines?
For people suffering from Atopic Dermatitis (commonly known as eczema) swimming in chlorine can be a risk for irritation. Chlorine actually robs the skin of its natural oils and fatty acids that are needed to thrive. Ozderm Australia endorsed an international study looking at the relationship between free residual chlorine, the skin’s water-holding capacity, and its effects in people affected by eczema.
The results showed the water-holding capacity was more sensitive to exposure than in people without. These results also suggested that exposure may play a role in the development or exacerbation of the skin condition⁵.With nearly 10-15% of the Australian population suffering from eczema⁶,and while mains water has a lower concentration of chlorine than a pool, showering daily in chlorinated water could be making the condition worse.
Additionally, chlorine in copper pipes can also cause oxidation, and when combined with iron & other minerals this can actually strip the colour from bleached hair⁷.Meaning the daily exposure to these elements can be a reason behind quick fading and changing colour.
The reduction of these common contaminants through water filtration is on the rise as a necessity for those suffering from skin conditions. Having water filtration installed for every water outlet beyond just drinking from the filtered kitchen tap can allow residents to shower confidently knowing they are exposed to a reduced rate of these contaminants. There are many benefits of filtering water beyond just drinking, and we share another strong reason as to why below.
How does unfiltered water affect building and appliance pipeworks?
While the calcium and magnesium found in hard water can actually be good for our internal body, it’s not the case within building and appliance pipeworks. Hard water can affect the hot water areas of apartments such as the shower head, a kettle, washing machine, dishwasher and certainly in the hot water service. These minerals stick to the inner lining of pipes and can cause blockages. Hard water can also be the culprit to the persistent scaling on shower screens and tapware, and behind spotting on glassware.
Depending on where your apartment building is located in Australia, this build up is mostly common in Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. This hard water build up is important to note as a building owner, as this can affect the performance and lifespan of apartment appliances and systems⁸.
This shortened lifespan of dishwashers, the cleanliness of showerheads, and the stability of the buildings’ hot water service can quickly result in complaints from residents. Water filtration systems can help protect these pipeworks by reducing this buildup of scale and sediment and achieve fewer plumbing repairs. Meaning a longer lifespan for these pipes and appliances, and over time these savings can be substantial for you to gain.
To provide residents with not just filtered water for drinking, but for all uses, and to protect the building pipeworks and extend appliance life, thePuretec Rainwater Reuse Kit 75K-Kis our recommended solution. This filtration system is commonly situated in a basement level of the building, and filters up to 1133 Lpm. The system includes UV that kills up to 99.99% of bacteria, along with a primary 100um backwashing screen filter, and secondary filtration down to approx 1um.
In further detail, to protect the water distribution lines in the building’s heating and cooling systems, a part of the kit is theIAB65F Series.This system can protect common impurities that can damage these lines such as sand, rust flakes, lime deposits and coarse material which can damage these lines. Along with the elements within each apartment such as the mixer taps, faucets and also washing machines. The installation of a protection filter is the most simple and efficient alternative to avoid ongoing costly maintenance in the future.
Water Filtration by Puretec
There are many different ways to provide filtered water for residents to ensure they have access to clean water with reduced contaminants. Upgrading your apartment building with water filtration can ensure your pipeworks have the longest lifespan possible and reduce your maintenance costs, and overall raise the value and reputation of your apartment building with positive experiences by permanent and rental residents. Install a Puretec water filtration system in your apartment complex and both you and your residents can start to feel the benefits!
Disclaimer: ‘Removing’' indicates significant reduction, not necessarily 100% removal.
References:
- 1.USGS. “USGS.” The Water in You: Water and the Human Body, 22 May 2022. Accessed 7th October 2023.
- 2.CPR First Aid. “CPR First Aid.” Signs and symptoms of dehydration, 2022. Accessed 19th October 2023.
- 3.Mayo Clinic Health System. “Mayo Clinic Health System.” Water: Essential for your body, 29th September 2022. Accessed 7th October 2023.
- 4.IFlow Psychology. “IFlow Psychology.” Why Hydrate? The secret health benefits of water, 22 march 2020. Accessed 19 October 2023.
- 5.Ozderm. “Ozderm.” Time for a swim?, Emanuela Elia, 4 January 2026. Accessed 23 October 2023.
- 6.“How common is eczema in Australia?” BHC Medical Centre, 31st December 2015. Accessed 7 October 2023.
- 7.PopSugar. “PopSugar.” Do Shower Filters Really Transform Hair and Skin? I Tried It For a Month and Won't Look Back, Izzie Deibe, 3 February 2023. Accessed 31 October 2023.
- 8.Appliances Online. “Appliances Online.” How does hard water impact washing machines?, 2023. Accessed 24 October 2023.