Clean, Safe Water for Your Wellington Home
Wellington tap water is safe by regulation, but most households notice a chlorine taste, occasional sediment, and scale buildup in kettles. A properly specified water filter fixes that at the source. Southern has been supplying and installing filtration — under-sink, whole-house, tap-mounted — across Wellington for 40+ years.
We install and service Puretec, Brita, Filterpure and all major NZ filtration brands. Serving Karori, Johnsonville, Khandallah, Island Bay, and the Hutt Valley.
Call 0800 484 353 — Your Job On Time, or It’s Free.
What a Filter Actually Removes
- Chlorine and chloramines — removes the pool-smell taste from tap water
- Lead and heavy metals — mostly a concern in older homes with lead solder or brass fittings
- Microplastics
- Sediment, sand and silt — visible grit that settles in kettles
- Organic compounds — pesticides, industrial residues
- Bacteria and viruses — with a UV stage
What a carbon filter won’t remove is hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium). For that you need a softener — we install those too.
Three Types of Filter Systems
Under-sink filter — most popular. Dedicated filter under the kitchen sink, with its own tap beside the main mixer. Filters drinking and cooking water only. Lowest cost, easy to maintain, no impact on flow anywhere else in the house.
Whole-house filter — fits at the mains entry. Every tap, shower and appliance gets filtered water. Protects pipes from scale, keeps showers gentler on skin. Best paired with a sediment pre-filter and UV stage.
Tap-mounted / jug filter — the cheapest option, tenant-friendly, no plumbing work. Lower filter life, but fine if you don’t want a permanent install.
Multi-Stage: Sediment + Carbon + UV
The gold standard for whole-house systems — three stages working together:
- Sediment pre-filter — catches grit, rust flakes and suspended solids. Extends the life of everything downstream.
- Carbon filter — removes chlorine, chemical taste, organic compounds. The stage you notice most in the glass.
- UV steriliser — kills bacteria and viruses. Matters most on rainwater or bore supply; good insurance even on town supply.
We also do standalone sediment filters for properties with rainwater tanks — call us if you’re on a tank supply.
Signs You Need a New Filter Cartridge
- Chemical, earthy or metallic taste coming back
- Visible sediment in kettles or tap aerators
- White or brown staining on fixtures
- Appliances (dishwasher, washing machine) wearing out faster than they should
- Household members commenting on taste or odour
- It’s been 6-12 months since your last change
Most carbon cartridges need replacing every 6-12 months; sediment filters every 3-6 months. We run maintenance schedules for customers who want us to just turn up and swap them over.
Why Southern for Your Filter Install
Filters from hardware stores come with “fits most kitchens” instructions. In a Wellington home with old galvanised pipework and an under-sink dishwasher connection, they rarely fit anything. We size the system, specify the brackets, handle the tap-cutout, and pressure-test it before we leave.
40+ years. Master Plumbers. Certifying Plumber on staff. We service residential and commercial across Wellington, Hutt Valley, Porirua and Kapiti. Free quote for simple installs. Request a quote or call 0800 484 353.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Tap water in Wellington is safe by regulation but most people notice a chlorine taste and occasional sediment. A filter is optional, not required — but makes a noticeable difference to taste, kettle scale, and appliance life.