Why Is Adelaide Tap Water So Bad? Hardness, Taste & Safety Explained

Name: Deadshort Electrical
Address: 41 Cawthorne Street, Thebarton, Adelaide, SA, 5031, AU
Telephone: (08) 8410 0887

Introduction – Adelaide’s Water Reputation

Adelaide’s tap water has carried a reputation for decades: safe, but unpleasant. Ask around, and you’ll hear the same comments — “It tastes like chlorine,” “Our kettle scaled up in three months,” or “I only drink bottled water.”

The truth is, South Australia’s tap water meets all national drinking standards. However, that doesn’t stop locals from calling it the “worst water in the country.” Whether you live in the northern suburbs, down by the coast, or up in the Adelaide Hills, the issues are the same — hard water, strong taste, and appliance damage.

So why is Adelaide water so bad? And more importantly, what can you do about it?

Adelaide’s Water Sources Explained

Unlike other capital cities, Adelaide doesn’t have the luxury of pristine catchments. Our water is a blend of three main sources:

Murray River – our primary supply. It travels hundreds of kilometres, collecting salinity, minerals, and agricultural runoff.
Desalination Plant (Lonsdale) – a backup source, often used in dry years, feeding suburbs like Christies Beach and Seaford.
Adelaide Hills Reservoirs – provide softer water at times, but limited by rainfall.

Because this mix changes with demand and weather, water quality shifts across Adelaide. Someone in Burnside might have slightly different tasting water than someone in Port Adelaide or Salisbury.

SA Water info here

Why Adelaide Water Tastes Different

It isn’t just the source of supply — it’s also how water is treated and transported.

Chlorine: Essential for disinfection, but often dosed higher here. Residents in the north (Elizabeth, Salisbury) complain most about its strong chemical taste.
Long pipelines: The further water travels, the more contact with pipes, altering flavour.
Seasonal swings: In summer, chlorine levels spike, and algae blooms create earthy odours in reservoirs.
Coastal suburbs: Places like Glenelg and Brighton sometimes pick up a brackish taste when desalinated water enters the system.

Tip: Run your tap for 30 seconds in the morning — it often reduces overnight chlorine build-up.

Water Hardness in Adelaide

If there’s one thing Adelaide is known for, it’s hard water. Hardness is the level of calcium and magnesium dissolved in water.

North & West (Salisbury, Port Adelaide, West Lakes): Highest hardness levels, often above 120 mg/L.
Eastern Suburbs (Burnside, Norwood, Kensington): Slightly lower, but still far harder than Sydney or Melbourne.
Hills (Stirling, Crafers, Aldgate): Softer water at times, but highly variable.

Why hard water matters:

Scale in kettles, coffee machines, and dishwashers.
Soap and detergent inefficiency → higher bills.
Reduced hot water system efficiency due to mineral build-up.
White marks on glass, tiles, and shower screens.

Can You Drink Tap Water in Adelaide?

Yes — Adelaide tap water is safe to drink. SA Water tests it against the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which cover microbiological, chemical, and physical standards.

But “safe” isn’t the same as “pleasant.”

Older homes in Unley, Prospect, Goodwood: Galvanised pipes can leach metallic tastes.
Coastal suburbs (Semaphore, Brighton): Higher chlorine odours.
Hills areas: Earthy flavours during algae blooms.
Sensitive groups: Babies, pregnant women, or immune-compromised residents may choose filtered water.

So while you won’t get sick from drinking it, taste and odour push many Adelaide households toward bottled or filtered water.

Why People Say Adelaide Water Is “Bad”

Adelaide water’s reputation is built on lived experience:

Taste & smell – chlorine-heavy, earthy, or metallic.
Appliance damage – kettles, dishwashers, and hot water units scale quickly.
Skin & hair dryness – hard water strips natural oils.
Staining & cleaning issues – white mineral marks everywhere.
Perception vs reality – “bad taste” fuels the myth that it’s unsafe.

These issues are consistent across suburbs, but each region has its own flavour of complaint.

Chlorine, Fluoride & Additives in Adelaide Water

Treatment protects public health but affects water aesthetics.

Chlorine: Keeps water safe, but noticeable above 0.6 mg/L.
Fluoride: Added by law for dental health. Safe, but alters taste.
Aluminium & lime: Treatment agents that can make water look cloudy.

Adelaide’s chlorine levels are among the highest in the country due to long pipelines — one of the biggest drivers of taste complaints.

Health vs Aesthetics – The Divide

It’s important to stress: Adelaide water meets every safety standard. Health-wise, it’s fine. Aesthetically, it’s poor.

That’s why bottled water sales are higher here than anywhere else in Australia.

The Real Impact on Homes & Appliances

Bad water doesn’t just offend the taste buds — it costs you money.

Dishwashers & washing machines: Scale reduces efficiency and lifespan.
Hot water units: Scale build-up forces them to work harder, using more energy.
Bathrooms & kitchens: Mineral deposits on tiles, screens, and fittings.
Plumbing: Old copper and galvanised pipes corrode faster.

Over time, Adelaide households spend thousands dealing with the effects of water hardness.

Suburb-by-Suburb Comparisons

Northern suburbs (Salisbury, Elizabeth): Strongest chlorine taste, hardest water.
Western coastal (Glenelg, Brighton, Semaphore): Brackish and salty hints.
Eastern suburbs (Burnside, Norwood): Slightly better, but still harder than interstate.
Hills (Stirling, Aldgate): Softer water but seasonal earthy notes.
Check out our suburb coverage here

How to Improve Your Tap Water in Adelaide

Deadshort Services Filtration Options

Carbon filters: Remove chlorine taste/smell. Affordable and effective.
Reverse osmosis: Strips minerals and chemicals → bottled-water quality.
Whole-home softeners: Reduce scale across the property.
Fridge filters: Good for taste, but not a complete solution.
Rain water Tank: Combined with filtration these can be a great solution

Plumbing & Maintenance

Replace old galvanised pipes.
Flush taps after non-use.
Service hot water systems to remove scale.

Appliance Protection

Descale kettles & coffee machines regularly.
Fit filters on dishwashers in high-hardness suburbs.

Environmental & Cost Benefits

Bottled water feels like the easy fix, but it’s expensive and unsustainable.

Bottled water: $800+ per year for a family.
Whole-home system: $1,000–$1,500 once-off install.
Payback period: Less than 2 years.

Filtration cuts costs and reduces plastic waste, making it the smarter long-term option.

Why Choose Deadshort Services for Water Solutions

Deadshort Services has been helping Adelaide households with plumbing and water systems for over 35 years. We understand the unique challenges of our city’s water because we see it every day.

Our Services:

Install under-sink, fridge, and whole-home filtration systems.
Fit water softeners to reduce scale.
Replace old pipes in heritage and older homes.
Service and protect hot water systems.
Connect and maintain dishwashers, fridges, and appliances.

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More Than Just A Local Plumbing & Gas Company Adelaide : The Multi-Trade Advantage

At Deadshort Services, we offer more than Plumbing & Gas Repairs & Installations—we provide complete, end-to-end property solutions delivered by our fully licensed, in-house trades across a wide range of disciplines. When you choose us for plumbing in Adelaide you’re not simply hiring a plumber, Rather, you’re engaging a coordinated network of qualified professionals, including:

Together, these departments operate under one roof, working with a shared mission: to complete your job correctly, on time, and without added stress.

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