How to Filter Bore Water for Drinking: A Perth Homeowner’s Guide

To filter bore water for drinking, test it at a NATA-accredited laboratory first, then fit treatment that matches the results. Depending on the results, that can mean a sediment stage for particles, treatment such as reverse osmosis for dissolved contaminants, and disinfection to deal with bacteria. A filter on its own isn’t a guarantee, and the WA Government advises that garden bore water isn’t safe to drink without proper testing, treatment and ongoing monitoring.

This guide is for Perth homeowners who are weighing up drinking bore water, whether the property isn’t on scheme water or they simply want another option. It covers what to test for, how treatment works, how to look after it, and what you can do about the rust-coloured stains bores are known for.

What Is Bore Water?

Bore water is groundwater that has been pumped to the surface through a bore, which is a drilled hole, sometimes called a well. It starts as rain that soaks into the ground and collects in aquifers, the layers of soil and rock that hold water underground, according to the WA Department of Health. Many Perth homes have a garden bore. They take water from the shallow watertable aquifer, such as the Superficial aquifer, to irrigate small areas of lawn and garden. In a proclaimed groundwater area, taking water from the deeper artesian aquifers, such as the Leederville and Yarragadee, needs a licence from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER). The depth matters for drinking. The Department of Health says water from deeper, confined aquifers is generally better quality than water from shallow, unconfined ones. Shallow groundwater is more exposed to contamination from the surface, including animals, pesticides, fertilisers and industrial activity.

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Is Bore Water Drinkable In Australia?

Sometimes, but not by default. Bore water can be fit to drink once it has been tested and, where needed, treated. Untested bore water shouldn’t be. The WA Department of Health says bore water should never be used for drinking or cooking unless it has been tested and treated to the extent the use requires. For Perth garden bores, the advice from DWER is firmer. It doesn’t recommend drinking garden bore water where scheme water is available. Where scheme water isn’t available, it says the water isn’t safe to drink without proper testing, treatment and ongoing monitoring by an accredited laboratory. Garden bore water can carry contaminants, including heavy metals and bacteria, that can make people seriously ill. You can’t judge it by looking, smelling or tasting. The Department of Water’s 2015 private drinking water note points out that pathogens and some chemicals have no colour, taste or smell. The Department of Health lists nitrate, arsenic, pesticides and petroleum products among the health concerns, while iron mostly causes staining. The benchmark for drinking water is the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. This guide follows WA Government advice, so if your property is in another state or territory, check with its health department.

Can Bore Water Be Filtered For Drinking?

Yes, but only if the treatment suits what’s actually in your water. No single filter handles everything bore water can contain, so the test result should decide the setup, not the other way round.

DWER’s private drinking water note says tap-style systems such as cartridge filtration, reverse osmosis, activated carbon and UV disinfection (with a lamp failure alarm) can be effective when they’re matched to the water’s chemistry, as shown by regular analysis.

It also says drinking water should be adequately disinfected to control pathogens. The Department of Health adds that chlorination is the most reliable way to make sure drinking water is free of microbiological contamination.

That splits the job in two. Filters deal with particles and many dissolved substances. Disinfection deals with germs. A setup that only does the first isn’t a complete answer for drinking.

Here is how common test findings generally map to treatment:

What the test finds	What it generally calls for
Sand, silt, rust flakes, cloudy water	A sediment filter
Iron, manganese, or hardness	Treatment designed around your actual results
Nitrate, arsenic, or other dissolved contaminants	Advanced treatment such as reverse osmosis, if the results support it
Bacteria such as E. coli or total coliforms	Disinfection
A fuel, chemical, or sewage smell, foaming, dying plants, or pH below 5	Contact your local government environmental health officer; a pH below 5 should be professionally tested

How To Filter Bore Water For Drinking, Step By Step

The test result decides the treatment, so the steps run in this order.

Under Sink Water Filters: What They Do Best

Step 1: Check The Site And The Bore

Start with where the water comes from. DWER’s Perth groundwater map shows the estimated depth to the watertable, an indication of salinity, and whether your area suits a garden bore at all. DWER lists areas that are generally unsuitable, including within 200 metres of the ocean or the Swan River estuary, near wetlands, and near contaminated sites. The Department of Health also asks bore owners to check the Contaminated Sites Database so they aren’t drawing from a known contaminated site. Then look at the bore itself. The Department of Health advises a protective cover, a concrete slab that slopes away from the bore, a position at least 30 metres from septic tanks and other wastewater systems, and construction by a licensed driller. Contaminants can also enter through poorly sealed bore casings, so it’s worth sorting this out before you spend money on treatment.

Step 2: Test The Water

Ask a NATA-accredited laboratory for a Standard Drinking Water Test. It has two parts: a microbiological test for total coliforms and faecal coliforms (E. coli), and a chemical test covering items such as total iron, nitrate, nitrite, lead, copper, pH, hardness, turbidity and total dissolved solids.

The Department of Health’s fact sheet says bore water may need further tests for things like arsenic, manganese, fluoride and hydrogen sulfide, depending on what’s around the bore.

Sampling matters. The laboratory will tell you which bottles to use, how much to collect and how quickly to deliver it, and a badly collected sample won’t give reliable results. Drinking water results are measured against the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, not the garden irrigation limits.

The Department of Health can interpret results and advise on making water safe to drink, whereas laboratories generally can’t give health advice.

Step 3: Match The Treatment To The Results

Use the table above as a rough guide, then have the system designed around your actual numbers. A whole-home system treats water where it enters the house, while an under-sink reverse osmosis unit treats the water at a dedicated drinking tap. Filtration alone doesn’t deal with bacteria, so if your results show bacteria, make sure disinfection, such as UV, is part of the design.

Step 4: Install It Properly And Keep The Plumbing Separate

Use a licensed plumber. If bore water is ever connected to a scheme water supply, the Department of Health says it needs a backflow prevention device, a licensed plumber, work to Australian Standard AS 3500 Part 1.2, and food-grade or AS 4020 approved pipes and materials.

DWER’s private drinking water note also recommends colour-coding pipes and outlets that carry water not fit to drink in purple, and putting up an “unsafe water, do not drink” sign.

Step 5: Maintain The System And Keep Testing

Treatment only works while it’s maintained. Cartridges and membranes wear out, so follow the replacement schedule the manufacturer gives for your system and keep a record of when each part was changed. Heavy sediment in the water can mean more frequent changes.

Keep testing too. The Department of Health recommends testing at least once a year if bore water is your only supply, or if you rely on it when your rainwater runs out.

DWER’s note suggests more frequent checks for a treated private supply, including testing the treated water as well as the raw water, and says treatment systems need ongoing monitoring. Ask the Department of Health or your local government environmental health team what schedule suits your property.

Does The Bore Itself Ever Need Cleaning?

Sometimes. Pumping adds oxygen and nutrients to a bore, and the Department of Health says bacteria thrive in those conditions and can form a biofilm that traps minerals, sand, clay and silt. Iron can get caught in it, and the build-up can reduce the bore’s yield. DWER lists a change in water colour or odour as a possible sign of iron bacteria affecting the pump.

Bores can be decontaminated or unclogged using chemical and physical processes, so speak to a licensed driller. Check the Department of Health’s materials, products and substances list before putting anything into a bore.

How To Prevent Bore Water Stains?

You can’t stop bore water from containing iron, but you can limit where it ends up. Outdoor staining comes from bore water landing where it shouldn’t, so the fix sits on the sprinkler side rather than at the tap.

DWER’s Be Groundwater Wise site says iron staining from garden bores is common in Perth. Iron dissolved naturally in the groundwater reacts with air once it’s pumped up and leaves a red rust coat on paths, roads, walls and fences. The stains can be hard to remove, which is why prevention matters.

What helps:

Pick and place sprinklers to avoid overspray and run-off. DWER suggests drip-line sprinklers in garden beds.
Check the iron staining risk before you drill. The Perth groundwater map shows it for your address. The underlying dataset notes that the map doesn’t capture every location with staining potential, so check conditions at nearby bores too.
Get an endorsed waterwise irrigator to design or adjust the system, as DWER recommends for irrigation and bore troubleshooting.

A filter on your household supply won’t change any of this. It treats the water going through your house plumbing, not the water running to a separate sprinkler system. Indoors, a sediment stage can catch rust particles in the water.

What Should You Ask A Supplier Before You Buy?

Questions worth asking any supplier:

What did my test show, and how does your proposed system deal with each result?
How will bacteria be dealt with?
What will it cost to run, including cartridge changes and servicing?
When should the treated water be retested to confirm it’s working?

If you’d like help, we offer water testing in Perth through NATA-accredited laboratories, and no-obligation consultations across Greater Perth. You can request a consultation online or call 1300 431 467.

FAQs

How do you make bore water drinkable?

Test it at a NATA-accredited laboratory, treat it to match the results, make sure bacteria are dealt with, and keep monitoring. Don’t skip the test, because contamination can’t be judged by sight, taste, or smell.

Can I purify bore water by boiling it?

Boiling can deactivate pathogens, and DWER’s private drinking water note calls it a practical option in remote locations. It doesn’t remove harmful chemicals, though, so it won’t help with problems such as nitrate or heavy metals.

Can I drink bore water if my Perth home is on scheme water?

DWER doesn’t recommend it. Garden bores aren’t recommended for drinking where scheme water is available.

How often should I test my bore water?

The Department of Health recommends at least once a year for chemical and microbiological contamination if bore water is your only supply, or if you rely on it when rainwater runs out. DWER’s note suggests more frequent checks for a treated supply, so ask your local government environmental health team what suits your property.

Why does my bore water smell like rotten eggs?

DWER says the most common bore odour is hydrogen sulfide, which occurs naturally from the breakdown of underground organic material such as peat, and is generally harmless at low concentrations. A fruity or kerosene smell is not natural and may point to contamination. The Department of Health also lists a rotten-egg smell among possible signs of contamination, so a test is the only way to be sure.

Does a filter remove iron from bore water?

A sediment stage can catch rust flakes and other particles. Iron dissolved in the water is a different matter, and how well a filter deals with it depends on how much iron and manganese your test shows, so let the results guide the design.