Mains Water Apartment - Residential Article

It is commonly assumed that water filtration is only reserved for single house structures right? With more than 2.5 million Australians now calling apartment complexes home¹, and water filtration now becoming more common, the thought of altering the plumbing and fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom can be only a dream for residents. Seen, and feared, as an automatic ‘no-go zone’ with their landlord.

So why is filtering your water important in an apartment? And how can you install non-invasive solutions to enjoy filtered water, and also keep your landlord happy? We explain the many reasons and incredible benefits you may not know about, along with the solutions to start enjoying these features.

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 disinfection 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 disinfection process. However, these chemicals can affect our desire to drink, affect our hair and skin, and our appliance pipeworks.

In the case of mains water running through an apartment building, the ageing pipes or other external factors can also make the building water supply especially susceptible to these various chemical contaminants still remaining in the water.

So how can filtered water improve my health?

When it comes to drinking unfiltered mains water, the common bad taste and odour that comes from chlorine can be simply off putting, and no one likes to drink bad tasting water. However, water is the most vital substance for a healthy mind and body²,and to properly keep hydrated men need a whopping 10 cups of water everyday, while women need 8 cups³.

With this in mind, 80% of the Australian population still don’t drink enough water each day and suffer the effects of dehydration⁴.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 body⁵

For good tasting water to improve your desire to drink and overall hydration, the main goal in an apartment is to not disrupt or make any permanent changes. Avoiding a breach in the rental agreement is crucial for ongoing residency. While this can be challenging, and certainly comes with limitations, the opportunity for water filtration doesn’t have to be a ‘someday’ benefit for you to enjoy. Puretec’s undersinkPureMix Z Seriesis specifically designed for common mains water supplies, to be non disruptive, low maintenance, and easy to maintain.

Using Ultra Z Filtration Technology, thePuremix Z6andPuremix Z7filters out bad taste and odour, chlorine, sediment, and protects against cysts and E.coli bacteria. The valve-in-head technology means the filter cartridge can be quickly changed (as easy as changing a light globe!) without having to turn off the water supply. The best part about this is, these innovative units can be installed into any existing 2 way mixer tap and fits right under your kitchen sink! Meaning no need for a second filter tap and installation hassle.

The unit can also be fitted vertically or horizontally, so it won't clutter the cupboard, and no shelf cut outs needed, which means minimal impact for you and your landlord. These systems are also easy to uninstall and take with you if you relocate! With undersink filtration installed, water is more enjoyable to drink and in turn naturally increases hydration for optimal body health.

If an undersink filter isn’t the right solution for you or your landlord, thePuretec CT15counter top filter is also a great non-invasive option. Including a flexible hose to connect to your kitchen faucet and a singular filtered water tap. This portable filter sits on top of your kitchen counter, and reduces chlorine, bad taste and odour, chemicals and sediment for good tasting water. Also features a simple screw in and out for easy portability if you relocate.

How can water filtration help my skin?

We all have the strong smell of chlorine from the local swimming pool burned into our memories, and experiencing dry hair and skin afterwards right? 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 is 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 condition⁶.

With 10-15% of the Australian population suffering from eczema, and while mains water has a lower concentration of chlorine than a pool, showering, washing your face and hands daily in chlorinated water could be making the condition worse. The Eczema Association of Australasia also estimates each person is spending an average of $425 AUD⁷for products & creams per year to treat the condition. This high dollar amount, along with the increasing amount being spent on a daily skin care routine to achieve supple skin, can all be washed down the drain when bathing and washing your face in chlorinated mains water.

We also can’t forget about filtration at the bathroom sink, as this is where we wash our hands, wash our face, and brush our teeth with mains water. Our skin is frequently coming into contact with chlorine, further irritating sensitive skin on our hands and face, along with the bad taste, odour and bacteria when cleaning our teeth. ThePureMix Z2is a 3 stage filtration unit designed to fit neatly under your bathroom vanity, making it easy to install where space is limited. The unit connects to the cold water line of your existing mixer tap. ThePuremix Z2also mounts horizontally or vertically so no shelf cutouts are required here either!

How can water filtration benefit my hair?

The chlorine in copper pipes can cause oxidation and when combined with Iron & other minerals can strip colour from bleached hair⁸,meaning the daily exposure to these elements can be a reason behind quick fading and changing colour, not to mention split ends!

Celebrity hair colourist Tracey Cunningham even shared with Vogue Magazine that she sees these same effects in her clients (think Gwyneth Paltrow and Mariah Carey!) and recommends filtration. “My blonde clients will come in after six to eight weeks with dull hair. That’s because of mineral buildup. It’s the bane of my existence’’. She talked about the benefits of using a filter saying “Not only does it help with your colour, but the texture of your hair feels better, too, because it’s not as brittle’’⁹With the high mineral count in hard water this can also form a moisture barrier in hair and block helpful nutrients from absorbing, resulting in slower growth, breakage, and even thinning¹⁰.

To experience chlorine free water for your shower routine, theSF240shower filter uses carbon and KDF media to reduce sediment, chlorine, and heavy metals. The filter is very easy to install with a simple screw in method (no plumber required!), the non-invasive design, and the simple removal when you relocate means your landlord can breathe easy! You can start enjoying the positive results for your skin and hair, giving both a much deserved break and the opportunity to be well balanced and free from irritants.

How can water filtration benefit the environment?

Whether it be bottled water or heavy boxes of water, which are a pain to carry to the car, up the elevator and down the hall to your front door! And take up valuable space on your kitchen bench top or fridge, we’ll do just about anything to avoid the chlorine taste from mains water!

With around 373 million plastic water bottles ending up as waste each year, it’s concerning to know that plastic bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) takes around 450 years to fully decompose¹¹.Meaning every single plastic bottle you have ever touched in your lifetime, still exists to this very day, and will for generations to come!

Even though 90% of the cost of a water bottle can be traced back to the bottle, lid, and label¹²,many are drawn in by the marketing imagery of natural spring lakes and pristine mountains on the labels. From this, there seems to be a common, yet unspoken, idea that bottled water comes from a natural spring or a mountain in Switzerland, and is directly filled from the source¹³.

With the average cost of renting an apartment in Australia currently sitting at $600 a week¹⁴,and households spending on average $160 a week on groceries¹⁵,this ongoing cost of buying single use plastic water bottles and water boxes can be unproductive and only negatively contributing to the environment.

Water Filtration by Puretec

Good tasting water can be achieved straight from your mains water supply with the help of filtration. Whether it be clean and good tasting water available in the kitchen with minimal hassle for you and your landlord, adding a life changing element to your shower and bathroom routine to reduce ongoing skin irritation, or repurposing your hard earned money from harmful plastic waste. Install a Puretec water filtration system in your apartment and start to experience the benefits!