The taste of tap water in WA can vary significantly depending on where you live, according to the Water Corporation’s water quality department.

In September, the State Government announced a $756 million investment into Perth’s metro water supply network, turning attention to the city’s tap water and how the funding will address both supply and quality.

Minister for Water Simone McGurk said in a government report that the investment responds to Perth’s evolving climate by enhancing the city’s water network and conserving vulnerable water resources. The project will involve replacing 30 kilometres of water mains across Stirling, Joondalup, Belmont, Nedlands, and Bayswater.

Perth gets 30 per cent of its water from dams around the city, 42 per cent from groundwater aquifers, and 28 per cent from the city’s two desalination plants, with a third plant under construction in Alkimos and set to open in 2028.

Despite its diverse water sources, WA has consistently ranked low in overall water taste. In the 2023 IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water in Australia competition, Tasmania’s TasWater took first place, while WA’s Water Corporation ranked second to last.

A Water Corporation water quality department representative, Taylah McCallum, explained: ‘The taste is a result of different metals, salts, minerals, and other materials in the water as it comes out of the tap. However, thanks to the treatment processes, the water is always safe to drink.”

Before 1975, Perth’s dams received, on average, 420 billion litres of water annually. In 2024, that number was down to approximately 70 billion litres annually. The drop in dam water levels makes desalination plants, like the new one in Alkimos, essential to meeting Perth’s water needs in a changing climate. 

According to Water Corporation’s 2023 annual report, coastal suburbs—where more desalinated water is used—tend to have higher sodium levels in tap water. Buckland Hill and Hamilton Hill reported sodium concentrations of 120 mg/L and 101 mg/L, respectively. Meanwhile, inland suburbs and towns that rely on groundwater, such as Tamworth Hill (28 mg/L) and Dwellingup (36 mg/L), had lower sodium levels overall.

But sodium isn’t the only contributor to tap water’s taste. Copper from pipes, calcium hardness from bore water, and chlorine from the treatment process all play a role in shaping the overall flavour. 

Despite assurances of safety, Hamilton Hill resident Nicole Debono shared her concerns on a local community Facebook page, expressing frustration that the unusual mineral content makes her reluctant to use tap water. “Thanks to all the minerals, our kettle has to be replaced regularly, the showerheads are constantly blocked, and my kids get rashes all the time just from showering.”

Similarly, demand for locally sourced water filters has risen due to Perth’s tap water taste. WestOz Water Filters, a company that has been installing water filters since 2019, has seen increased interest in areas like coastal suburbs. Employee of the company Mavis Carruthers said, “Drinking water is essential for our bodies, so people want water that tastes good. If you drink it every day, it shouldn’t just be safe, but enjoyable too.”

Before being pumped into homes, whether desalinated or sourced from groundwater, the water undergoes treatment processes to make it safe to drink. These include chlorine disinfection, fluoridation, and safe water storage. These processes ensure that Perth’s water meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011), which set strict standards for safety and quality.

While the investment is a crucial step towards ensuring a sustainable and reliable water supply it is unlikely to significantly impact the water quality experienced by many Perth residents. Ms Debono is calling on the State Government to invest further into advanced filtration and desalination methods, to remove sodium and other minerals from the metro area’s drinking water.

“The minerals just make it too unpleasant to drink from the tap,” Ms Debono said. “Until it improves, I’ll stick to using a filter.”